'Why am I still sitting here in this crazy world?': Jurgen Klopp claims he is 'the last man standing' after Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers were sacked - and admits he is only protected from the axe by his past

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Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is only protected from being sacked on past achievements and cannot keep living off former glories.

Liverpool's manager expressed sympathy for Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers, who were jettisoned from Chelsea and Leicester respectively on Sunday.

But he also confronted the issue of his own side's form and accepted results should really have put him in the spotlight too.

There is no chance of Fenway Sports Group making Klopp the 13th sacking of remarkably volatile Premier League campaign.

Nor has the German lost his appetite for the challenge of trying to get Liverpool moving in the right direction once again.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp suggested he has not been sacked because of his former glories

The German offered his sympathy to Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter after their sackings by Leicester and Chelsea respectively on Sunday

But, equally, Klopp understands that a season in which Liverpool have been beaten 14 times in all competitions so far – and their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League are dramatically receding – has not been good enough. 

He knows, too, that the onus is on him to deliver.

'What can I say about that?' said Klopp, when asked for his reaction to the departures of Potter and Rodgers, men for whom he has great respect. 'I think the elephant in the room is why I am still sitting here in this crazy world, last man standing.

Klopp added, when asked how he was able to withstand such turbulent results: 'I cannot really explain that. 

'I am aware of the fact I am sitting here because of the past, not because of what we did this season. If it was my first season it would be slightly different.

'I don't think that Graham was afraid but there is no need for being afraid. I am here to deliver. I am not here as a talisman or for murals on walls. 

'I am here to deliver, I know that 100 percent. I know I am here for what happened in the last few years, I don't like relying on that.

'I am fully in, we have to sort it. We cannot continue playing like we do from time to time. I am really disappointed about us that we do these kind of things but now we have to find a way out.'

Klopp has held crisis talks with his players after Saturday's disappointing 4-1 loss vs Man City

The Reds have lost three in a row since beating rivals Manchester United 7-0 a month ago

The Reds currently lie eighth in the Premier League after a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday.

In previous seasons, the former title rivals have been separated by just one point across the entire campaign.

But the difference between the sides was demonstrated at the weekend, both during the game and given the result leaves Liverpool 22 points behind Pep Guardiola's side, albeit they have a game in hand.

Klopp and Co are now seven points off European qualification, eight points off a Champions League spot, and may not be in any continental competition next season.

They have conceded 33 goals - only one less than relegation-threatened West Ham - with several star players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho out of form.

Liverpool thrashed bitter rivals Man United 7-0 in March but have lost three in a row in all competitions since then.

The club have held crisis talks after that poor run of results, with the Merseyside outfit desperate for solutions - and fast.

They face fellow strugglers Chelsea on Tuesday.