Belfast Telegraph

I am happy but conceding late goals

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Klopp added: “I could not even have imagined (winning 5-2) was possible, so the boys still did outstandin­gly good and we go there and try to win again.”

The Liverpool boss was naturally delighted with how his side played, in particular how his front three once again gelled perfectly.

After Mane passed up two chances to give the hosts the lead, Salah cracked home a perfectly placed curler from the edge of the box before adding a delicately lofted second over the onrushing Alisson.

The Egyptian then laid the ball on a plate for Mane to finally get the goal he deserved before doing the same for Firmino, who wrapped up the Reds’ scoring with their fifth — a header from a corner.

“We had all these runs behind, it changed the game completely and they couldn’t cope with that,” Klopp beamed.

“We scored these goals and could have scored more. That is all positive, at this moment it doesn’t feel all positive because they scored these two goals but tomorrow I will see the really good part of the game.”

However, there was of course the final 10 minutes where Liverpool took their feet off the gas and allowed Roma back into it.

Edin Dzeko, the Italians’ dangerman, stole in to grab a precious away goal before Diego Perotti calmly stroked home a penalty to make it two.

As well as that, Liverpool had to deal with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlai­n being stretchere­d off injured, with the midfielder now looking to be in a race against time to be fit for England’s World Cup bid.

“Oxlade-Chamberlai­n is probably a really bad injury,” Klopp reluctantl­y admitted.

“That is bad news for us. The squad doesn’t get bigger at the moment so we need to be creative in the next few games.

Meanwhile, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson couldn’t hide

 ??  ?? Fan-tastic: Jurgen Klopp salutes Reds fans last night
Fan-tastic: Jurgen Klopp salutes Reds fans last night

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