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Joe Gomez has revealed how Liverpool's summer recruits understand the significance of securing Champions League qualification. It comes as the season now enters a "crunch period".

The Reds are currently navigating a demanding schedule of seven matches in 22 days that will determine the outcome of what has proved to be a challenging campaign under Arne Slot . They secured an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester City following their win at Wolves last Friday, but face an uphill task to reach the Champions League last eight after losing their round of 16 first leg 1-0 at Galatasaray on Tuesday.

Slot's side will aim to reverse that deficit in the second leg at Anfield next Wednesday, but must first welcome beleaguered Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, having slipped three points adrift of the top four. And Gomez recognises that failing to qualify for next season's Champions League would have significant consequences for the club and their developing squad.

He said: "We want to get Champions League football for next season. We know how big that is for the club. The FA Cup is still there to fight for. We have to beat big teams if we're going to win that.

"And we've still got the Champions League. We know how important this period is. The new lads understand the stakes as well. We have to stay together as a team and fight until the end.

"This is a crunch period. We're coming to the business end of the season and we'll do everything we can to make something out of it. We've under-performed at times. We're not where we want to be in the Premier League but we still have the chance to put things right."

Gomez started at right-back in Turkey and has featured in three of Liverpool's last four matches, having endured a spell out with a hip injury sustained when he collided with Alisson Becker in a defeat at Bournemouth in January. The 28-year-old will be hoping to make only a sixth Premier League start of the campaign at the weekend, with Slot prepared to rotate his squad once more.

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Gomez added: "I just want to help the team wherever that will be, whether it's in the centre or at full-back. For me it's about getting rhythm and momentum. I want to play but as cliched as it sounds, it's always about what's best for the team.

"(The injury) was a knock on my hip. It was from the impact. If it had been anyone other than Ali I probably would have been okay! It was frustrating for me but you face some tough luck at times and you have to deal with it."

Gomez also acknowledges Liverpool were affected by the raucous atmosphere inside Galatasaray's Rams Park in midweek, with the home supporters whistling whenever the Reds had possession. He said: "It was a tough night.

"We started positively and created a couple of good chances early on but didn't take them and then suffered the blow of conceding from a set-piece. That gave them even more energy and fired up the atmosphere even more.

"We never really got it flowing again after that. But we have to take the positives. We still created a fair bit and I think it will be a different game at Anfield. It's only half-time in the tie.

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"I don't think any of us would deny that it has an effect. It's hard. You can't hear each other, you can't hear the gaffer. It has an effect when it comes to being calm on the ball.

"They made it difficult for us but our fans can make it difficult for them too. We know what it's like to have that on your side and we'll have that next week."

Gomez featured in England's squad for the European Championships two years ago but hasn't received a call-up since from either subsequent interim manager Lee Carsley or permanent appointment Thomas Tuchel . Looking ahead to this summer's World Cup , the Liverpool man said of Tuchel: "I haven't spoken to him. I am fully focused on Liverpool.

"This is everything for me. I know that performing here is the most important thing. What comes with that is just a bonus. I'm not worried about that to be honest."

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