Comical at the back . . .clinical in attack
Klopp’s entertainers still leaking goals
FOLLOWING another rigorous examination by Leicester City, Jurgen Klopp was asked to make the case for his defence.
‘It’s obvious we concede too much — there’s no doubt,’ the German said after his erratically entertaining side clung on to win 3-2 against the side who dumped them out of the League Cup.
He was not wrong. Liverpool’s cardiac crew were at it again. Clinical going forward, comical at the back.
After six games, both Manchester clubs have conceded two goals. Klopp’s men have shipped 11. Even in the cavalier Premier League, a defensive record like that will not deliver a top-four finish.
‘That’s really hard for me,’ Klopp said. ‘Usually, I’m a good defensive coach but obviously that works not too good so far – but we will be fine.’
The visitors, inspired by Philippe Coutinho, should have coasted to victory. The Brazilian set up Mohamed Salah for the opener and then clipped a beautiful 25-yard free-kick into the top corner to double the lead.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet then allowed Shinji Okazaki to bundle in a response before Jordan Henderson appeared to have sealed victory with a breakaway tap-in.
However, seconds later Jamie Vardy nodded in a close-range rebound and Mignolet was at fault again when he brought down the same player in the area – only to redeem himself when he saved Vardy’s penalty.
It makes for hard reading, but Klopp believes he knows so much about the art of defending that he could pen a tome on it. ‘I don’t know everything about football but I could write a book in the next two hours about which space we have to defend, why, when and where you have to be,’ he said. ‘When you have to step up, push up – all that stuff.’
As for Leicester, Vardy took the blame. ‘I feel sick. I was the one who stepped up and missed so I will take that.’ SUPER STAT: Philippe Coutinho has scored more goals from outside the box than any other Premier League player since his debut (16). LEICESTER CITY (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel 6; Simpson 6, Morgan 6, Maguire 5.5, Chilwell 6; Mahrez 6
(Gray 61min, 6.5), King 7, Ndidi 6, Albrighton 7 (Slimani 80); Okazaki 7 (Iheanacho 75); Vardy 7.5.
Subs not used: Hamer, Amartey, Iborra, Fuchs. Scorers: Okazaki 45, Vardy 69. Booked: Ndidi, Albrighton, Vardy. Manager: Craig Shakespeare 6.5. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet 6; Gomez 6, Matip 6, Lovren 5, Moreno 6.5; Wijnaldum 7, Henderson 7, Can 7.5 (Milner 75); Salah 7, Firmino 6 (Sturridge 65, 6.5), COUTINHO 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 79).
Subs not used: Karius, Klavan, Solanke, Alexander-Arnold. Scorers: Salah 15, Coutinho 23, Henderson 68. Booked: Matip, Lovren, Mignolet.
Manager: Jurgen Klopp 7. Referee: Anthony Taylor 7. Attendance: 32,000.