Fast and furious Klopp only focused on League title

JURGEN KLOPP said he was “not interested” in his new record as the quickest Liverpool manager to rack up 100 Premier League wins – as he is focused on ending the club’s 30-year wait for the title.

Liverpool surged eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as Divock Origi was the scourge of

Everton once more in a thrilling 5-2 Merseyside derby win for the European champions at Anfield.

It extended Liverpool’s unbeaten top-flight run to 32 games – a new record – while it was also Klopp’s 100th League victory as Liverpool manager.

Klopp has achieved the feat faster than any Liverpool manager in history, having done so in his 159th match in charge. He beat the previous club record set by Kenny Dalglish, who reached his century in 167 games.

And Klopp is now the second quickest manager in the Premier League era to have recorded 100 wins, with Jose Mourinho having done so in 142 games during his two spells in charge of Chelsea.

But Klopp was unconcerned by the record, saying: “It is not a number I’m interested in.

“It’s 300 points that’s cool, but only 43 points helps us this season. The boys are the reason for the wins. It’s just a number, it’s cool but it’s necessary too. We have to keep winning.”

All but one of the goals yesterday came before halftime as Origi and

Xherdan Shaqiri, who replaced the rested Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, put Liverpool 2-0 up inside 17 minutes.

Michael Keane pulled a goal back for Everton before Origi got his second and Sadio Mane finished off a blistering counter-attack to make it 4-1.

The scoring did not stop there as Richarlison cut the deficit once more, but Georginio Wijnaldum hammered the final nail in the Everton coffin a minute from time as an eighth defeat in 11 League games sees the Toffees slip into the bottom three.

“All the goals were incredible,” said a delighted Klopp, who made five changes in total. “Wonderful goals, sensational passes, super pieces of football. I loved it a lot.”

Klopp insisted this fixture remained the “standout” one in Liverpool’s season despite the massive points difference between the sides at either end of the table.

However, the German’s actions spoke louder than words as he could afford the luxury of leaving out Firmino and Salah at the beginning of a hectic month for the Reds in three competitions.

“We needed fresh legs and I had to show my respect to the boys in the squad,” added Klopp. “They proved it. It is much more fun making changes, all of the boys are ready to deliver performances like this.”

AFP/Agencies