Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool deserve a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.
Klopp's Red are currently in fourth place, two ahead of chasing Chelsea for the final Champions League place with one game left to play.
He told reporters on Friday: "I think we deserve it but we have to make the last step. If we don't do it and Chelsea get the spot then they deserve it. It is as simple as that.
"But over the whole season, what the boys did in the most difficult circumstances, we deserve it.
"Chelsea made five or six changes in midweek. That would not be possible for us, even if we thought about it. These boys have had to fight for each yard, the last six or seven weeks, pretty much the same group. That is the situation.
"I really think they deserve it but we have to make the final step ourselves because nobody will probably help us."
Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final in two weeks, with a chance to cap what has been a surprising campaign with a major trophy
Winning the Kiev final would see them qualify for the competition again next season, as will a draw in their final Premier League game against Brighton on Sunday.
"That's the best case scenario, yes," Klopp said. "That is what we are working for, that is what we want. Champions League qualification, so we are in the competition next year, that was the target from the first day. I have said it a few times but if someone said to me on the last day of the season you will have it in your own hands, I would have said, 'okay, I will take that.'
"It would have been possible to have done it a little bit earlier for different reasons, one of the reasons is being in the Champions League itself, but we have to play this game. That is absolutely okay.
"It is a very positive situation at the moment. I cannot think at the moment the Champions League final. I have to think about this game and winning this game and making sure we play Champions League next year and then we have two weeks to prepare for the other game.
"But to be remembered in 500 years then, yes, we have to win the other game for sure. That's it."