No mountain too high for Liverpool: Klopp
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Reds’ manager feels they can repeat last year’s performance after recording a thrilling 32 win over PSG in the opener
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp believes his players have proved there is ‘no mountain they cannot climb’ after stepping up a level to clinch a dramatic victory over Paris St Germain at Anfield.
Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino struck a stoppage time winner as the Merseyside club beat PSG 3-2 in a thrilling Champions League Group C clash on Tuesday.
Having inflicted the first defeat of the season on the French champions, Klopp believes Liverpool have reaffirmed the credentials that took them to the final of the elite European competition last term.
COMMANDING EFFORT
“The cool development of this club is that when you hear Liverpool are playing PSG you don’t think we have no chance any more,” the German said.
“One, two or three years ago maybe people thought it’s a mountain we cannot climb. That is good that it is not like that now and that is because of last year.
“It’s still so unbelievably difficult. What the boys make of the match plan is extraordinary. One of them a yard less tonight and it’s game over.”
Anfield played host to some memorable matches in this competition last season as Liverpool marched towards a losing final appearance against Real Madrid, and the first match of the current group stage proved to be another electric night of entertainment.
FIGHTBACK
PSG had come back from two goals down with French World Cup winner Mbappe equalising in the 83rd minute, but then Firmino, who started on the bench due to an eye injury, drilled home a low shot in the final seconds. It was a deserved victory for Juergen Klopp’s team who had been on top for most of the match and handled the PSG frontline with some confidence.
Yet it was agonising for PSG, who had looked buried in the first half but clawed themselves back on level terms.
It was Daniel Sturridge who opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a fine header from an Andy Robertson cross, the striker getting in between Thiago Silva and Presnel Kimpembe and powering home his effort.
Six minutes later the Reds doubled their lead when PSG defender Juan Bernat tripped Georginio Wijnaldum in the area and James Milner slotted home the penalty. The Parisians got themselves back into the game though five minutes before the break when Thomas Meunier drove home a first-time effort.
Even at 2-1 Liverpool looked in charge but with seven minutes to go, Salah gave the ball away in his own half, Neymar ran towards the defence and the ball fell to the Mbappe who drove home with supreme confidence.
an eye abrasion in Liverpool’s last Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening, Roberto Firmino came off the bench to score the winning goal for the Reds in stoppage time.
Daniel Sturridge in the 72nd minute with the Reds leading 2-1 at the time, Firmino won Liverpool the match with a powerful low shot after PSG had equalised in the 83rd minute.
to the squad by signing Naby Keita and Fabinho in midfield, Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp preferred to start with veteran James Milner against a quick PSG unit. And the 32-year-old former Manchester City player proved his worth by working tirelessly for 90 minutes.
to put Liverpool 2-1 up, made driving runs from the flanks to deliver dangerous crosses and brought out a roar from the home fans when he left Neymar crumpled on the floor after a crunching, but a fair tackle. Robertson was vital to his team taking full points against their Parisian visitors. He stood firm against one of the fastest players on the planet — Kylian Mbappe — suffocating him from finding any space to run into the box.
provided two assists in the Premier League, added another with a pin-point cross to Sturridge between two defenders for the opening goal.