REDS REACTION

Klopp delight as Liverpool get back on track in Premier League title race

IT WAS Roberto Firmino’s back heel that told you the swagger was back.

Obviously the finish was from Mohamed Salah and that was more decisive. But it was the back heel that made it and indicated that some of the old synchronicity had returned.

Firmino is a centre-forward who can be outstanding without scoring and this was one of those afternoons.

And this was the moment when his all-round understanding and anticipation of his team-mates came close to telepathic.

The move to play in the Brazilian had also been a thing of beauty, Sadio Mane finding Naby Keita whose long-range pass was weighted perfectly. And that in itself was an improvement on recent games.

This was Jurgen Klopp hitting all the right notes of his heavy metal football: controlled yet rapid changes of tempo to dislocate the opposition.

Firmino might have taken the shot himself, though the angle was narrowing as Nathan Ake pushed him wider. But he sensed something behind him. Or he just knew that Salah would be sprinting in to join the attack.

Selflessly and instinctively, and whilst running at speed with no chance to check, he back heeled the ball and it fell directly into Salah’s path.

Bournemouth had already been on the back foot but the angle of attack had changed in an instant and they were discombobulated.

They saw the Egyptian bearing down on their goal with a free hit. The conclusion was inevitable.

‘I don’t think you find a lot of players who do what Bobby is doing in that moment,’ said Klopp. ‘Most of them try to shoot and get blocked and he is doing that little pass….’

Klopp chuckled at the audacity of it. ‘That little, little pass,’ he continued, with his enormous grin. ‘And then Mo is obviously a pretty cool finisher.’ We were but two minutes into the second half and Bournemouth could have headed home at that point. Any half-time reorganisation, any motivational words from Eddie Howe, were lost in the ether at that moment.

Three-nil down to a rejuvenated Liverpool, the contest was as good as over. Salah, Klopp said, was ‘pretty much undefendable’ and ‘outstanding.’ Yet it was more than that. This was the response Liverpool’s fans had yearned for after two draws, one shaky win, one narrow one and a defeat in the last five games.

‘We are very self-critical,’ said Klopp. ‘It was clear we were not happy with the two performances or even two of three games.

‘There are always reasons for it, but we cannot speak too much about it in public because it always sounds like you are going for excuses.

‘But the analysis has to be sensible. You have to talk about the right things with the boys and we did that. And that was the reaction we wanted to show today and the boys did that in an outstanding manner. So I’m really happy.’

In short, Liverpool aren’t about to implode, Klopp isn’t Kevin Keegan reincarnated and the fight for the title will be to the end.

‘I am not on social media, I don’t read a lot but of course it is difficult,’ Klopp acknowledged.

‘Everyone is talking about the boys. But it is only important what we think, what we can make better and what we have to do to improve. And that’s it. The character and mentality of these boys is the only reason we are where we are. In moments when you don’t get a result, people doubt that immediately. It’s the world. Predictable but still not true. We can use always the character and attitude of the boys. Combined with their outstanding football skills, we can win football games and we will win. How many? We will see. But we will try everything.’

So the title race will ebb and flow, hopefully until May. But with warm-weather training in Spain, Liverpool can take stock.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold coming on for 14 minutes and Jordan Henderson at least ready for the bench yesterday they will be replenished some more when they come back.

Some cautionary notes. Liverpool were again aided by a controversial offside decision for Mane’s opening headed goal. ‘It was a key moment,’ said Howe. ‘Half a yard offside. It was a huge turning point.’

Bournemouth are missing David Brooks and Callum Wilson, probably their best performers of the season, and have longterm injuries to Simon Francis and Lewis Cook.

In reality it’s asking too much of even one of the better sides in the Premier League to make do and mend in those circumstances. Jefferson Lerma had cleared the initial corner on 23 minutes, but the manner in which Keita was able to set up James Milner to produce another cross was alarming.

And Dan Gosling, who was tracking Mane, had his head in his hands when the Liverpool striker connected with Milner’s cross and headed home.

On 34 minutes it was Jordon Ibe, a former Liverpool player, at fault, losing possession while attempting to attack. Andy Robertson gained possession and chipped a delight-

fully weighted pass into the area to meet the run of Georginio Wijnaldum. His lob cleared the head of keeper Artur Boruc and dipped under the bar for 2-0.

Boruc has to be at his best to deny Salah on 44 minutes, the Egyptian’s flick and volley requiring a save of equal skill.

It would be to no avail. Liverpool would end any thoughts of resistance with that lovely moment two minutes in the second half.

Bournemouth stuck to their task. They even managed some strikes at goal, substitute Lys Mousset going closest.

But another delightful FirminoSalah link-up that saw the Egyptian hit the bar deserved a fourth goal.

Firmino and Alexander-Arnold squandered late chances too.

Those will only matter if goal difference becomes an issue. For now the points were safe. The nerves were settled.