Liverpool on track – Klopp
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp expressed optimism about his team’s progress despite the frustration of a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
James Milner put Liverpool ahead with a 43rd-minute penalty in Saturday’s game, but the visitors could not make their superiority count and conceded a 72nd-minute equaliser to Danny Rose.
Having beaten Arsenal and then lost at Burnley, Klopp’s men have only four points after three games, but he felt their display against Spurs demonstrated they are on the right track.
“This game showed again what we can do. It was not only about pressing,” Klopp said.
“We’re really flexible in offensive defending. We had wonderful moments with passing and all that stuff, the direction in our game.
“I wish we could have won it, but now we have to accept a point and that’s no problem because it’s Tottenham.”
Milner directed a nerveless penalty into the bottom-left corner after Erik Lamela had been penalised for clipping Roberto Firmino on the edge of the Spurs box.
With Spaniard Alberto Moreno still to convince in a Liverpool shirt, Milner is being asked to fill in at left-back and Klopp suggested there could be a long-term future for him in the role.
“We’re going to need more players for different positions. We decided that Milly can play [there], especially with the style of play we think we should play,” said the German.
“Fullback is not only a winger in offensive situations. It’s something like an eight in different moments, so that’s a really good position for Milly.
“Of course he still has to adapt and learn a little bit, because he has 500 games [of experience], but not in this position. So we have to work on it, as we work with every player.
“We were convinced that he can play the position – that’s why we didn’t make a transfer in this position with another player.”
Spurs striker Harry Kane is yet to score this season, but having taken seven games to open his account last term – which ended with him winning the Golden Boot – manager Mauricio Pochettino is not worried.
“I think it’s a good signal that he didn’t score yet,” said the Argentine.
“Because last season he scored in game 10 and was the top scorer in the league.”
Pochettino was the more satisfied of the two managers afterwards and hailed the “fantastic character” shown by his players as they fought to establish a foothold in the match.
Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm produced a series of alert interventions to keep Liverpool at bay early in the game.
The hosts were then forced into a first-half reshuffle when right-back Kyle Walker went off due to illness.
After Liverpool winger Sadio Mane had seen a goal disallowed for off-side, Spurs equalised when auxiliary rightback Eric Dier’s cross was flicked on by Lamela to Rose, who drilled home.
Pochettino refused to comment on Crystal Palace’s claim that they have rejected a bid from Tottenham for their winger Wilfried Zaha.
To date Spurs have made just two major signings – Victor Wanyama and Vincent Janssen, both of whom played against Liverpool. — AFP