Klopp: Too soon for songs!
Injury-hit Everton have no answer but Liverpool boss knows fight for Champions League places is far from over
THERE were five minutes to play and Liverpool were easing their way towards a derby win when the Kop started up their hymn of praise to Jurgen Klopp.
Yet you cannot expect the conventional from Klopp. There was no polite wave to acknowledge the fans. Instead, he screwed up his face with displeasure, pointed to his watch and called for calm.
The message was clear; nothing can be taken for granted. ‘I’m not that important,’ he protested afterwards, though clearly he is.
‘Of course, the Kop can do what it wants. But I thought at this moment there was still five or six minutes to go so how can they start singing this? It’s difficult for me to understand. It’s a sign that we think it’s done. And the game is done when it’s done, at the final whistle.’
It was tempting to bathe in the optimism of spring sunshine, though. Every step now feels like a giant leap. Fixtures are running out and three points feels like a huge step towards the top four and the Champions League.
‘Do you think we’re halfway there?’ said Klopp, incredulous that anyone could suggest as much. Bournemouth come on Wednesday, a team who exposed Liverpool in December. Navigating the emotions of the final weeks of the season won’t be straightforward.
‘We played a really good game, nearly everything was perfect, the performance was good,’ said Klopp. ‘But then we lose Sadio Mane to a knee injury. So that makes life not easier. And on Wednesday we will be ready. Everyone who will be here, start warming up already. Because we need each voice for another outstanding performance.’
So, nothing can be taken for granted. Still, a Merseyside derby against a resurgent Everton looked a fixture to encourage Manchester United and Arsenal, even if it was 1999 when Everton last won here.
But, as is their wont when Anfield is abuzz and the games are at their most intense, Liverpool reverted to their better selves and looked quite the Champions League qualifiers.
And it was an injury-ravaged and inexperienced Everton they faced. Losing Seamus Coleman and Morgan Schneiderlin was just too much for Ronald Koeman’s side. Their youth was hopelessly exposed.
Koeman said he was proud of his young players’ performances, which was justifiable for some of them at least. Yet he seemed affronted when the gap between the teams was pointed out, claiming the contest was close. If it was at times in terms of the scoreline, that was superficial.
Mane and Philippe Coutinho provided quality, and Emre Can and Lucas Leiva controlled midfield. But there were intriguing cameos elsewhere. Matthew Pennington, sent out for his first competitive start of the season, on the right side of a back three, was run ragged at times and yet kept Everton in the game with his first goal at this level, in front of the Kop no less.
Offering a minimal contribution was Romelu Lukaku, who says he won’t sign a new deal at Everton. He looked to have one foot out of the door yesterday.
And then there was Ross Barkley. Following the awful tackle on Jordan Henderson earlier in the season in this fixture, he was under scrutiny. And he was extremely fortunate to have seen out the first half. His seventh-minute challenge on Can was poor and merited a booking, rather than a talking to from referee Anthony Taylor.
And when the caution eventually finally came on 39 minutes, for a dreadful studs-up challenge on
Dejan Lovren’s ankle after Barkley had overrun the ball, it might have been judged a red card. Klopp was aghast on the touchline, even more animated than usual, arms whirling, head jutting, fingers pointing.
‘It’s always different for the local boys in this derby,’ conceded Koeman. ‘Maybe you’re right that he deserved two yellows.’
But the Everton boss was more concerned by the antics of the Liverpool bench and especially Klopp’s assistant, Zeljko Buvac, who led the protests. ‘Sometimes we have tinted glasses,’ admitted Klopp. ‘But sometimes it’s pretty clear. You cannot avoid all injuries, but a few you can avoid.’
Inbetween those fouls, Liverpool dominated. Mane was the instigator of Everton disintegration. Idrissa Gueye missed his challenge as Mane spun away. As he charged on goal, he managed to bamboozle Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams and Mason Holgate before edging past Pennington to pull the ball back across goal and into the far corner.
When Coutinho shimmied past Pennington on 26 minutes, Joel Robles rescued the defender by producing an excellent save. And then Pennington was centre stage again, but this time at the Kop end. Everton had produced almost nothing, yet a Leighton Baines corner was flicked on by Jagielka and touched on by Williams before falling at the feet of Pennington, who, with some relish, thumped home his first goal from close range.
However, three minutes later, Coutinho received the ball in so much space, completely unchallenged by Everton’s midfield. He was allowed to run at goal, shake off Gueye’s challenge and cut inside that man Pennington before curling home an exceptional strike.
On the hour, Liverpool extended their lead. Coutinho quite wonderfully fed Divock Origi, who was on for the injured Mane. The Belgian cut across Williams before striking decisively past Robles, who seemed to move away from the ball.
There was still the odd opportunity for Everton, none greater than when Baines’s cross on 70 minutes found an unmarked Holgate. Six yards from goal, he headed over.
At the end Klopp marched centre field to acknowledge a thoroughly satisfied Anfield. Whatever he claims, he is marking his territory. And elite European football looks to be in his grasp once more.