Liverpool duo have Klopp purring
MATCHWINNERS: SALAH, FIRMINO DOVETAIL SUPERBLY
London
Juergen Klopp backed Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino’s cases for Player-of-the-Year honours after they each bagged a goal and an assist to ensure an easy 2-0 win for Liverpool at Southampton.
Salah teed up Firmino to open the scoring with his 20th goal of the season after just six minutes, before the Brazilian returned the favour with a stunning backheeled pass for Salah to slot home just before half-time.
Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero furthered their cases to win the Golden Boot by downing Arsenal and Leicester respectively on Saturday.
But Salah is now just one behind Kane and has one more than the Argentine with 22 Premier League goals.
“I think Aguero and Kane and a few others are really good players as well, but our boys are important for us,” said Klopp.
“Both get the profit from our style of play. We play in the areas they like to have the balls, but in this strong league you cannot be third without fantastic players.”
Much of the attention before kick-off at St Mary’s was focused on Virgil van Dijk’s return just weeks after he became the world’s most expensive defender by becoming Liverpool’s latest signing from Southampton in a £75 million move.
However, the Dutchman couldn’t have wished for a more straightfoward 90 minutes as he shrugged off the boos of the home fans to record a first clean sheet and Premier League win in a Liverpool shirt.
“He did really well,” added Klopp. “He coped with the situation. We had a little talk before the game but I didn’t want to make him nervous.”
Victory saw Liverpool leapfrog Tottenham back into third and close to within two points of Manchester United in second after they were shocked 1-0 at Newcastle earlier on Sunday.
Southampton’s toothless second-half display saw the home crowd turn their ire from Van Dijk to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.
Chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ greeted the Argentine’s substitutions and he criticised his side’s lack of belief.
“We had to be more brave in these situations,” said Pellegrino.
“Sometimes you can be losing 2-0, but you have to show another spirit to try and bounce back, and at least to try until the end.” –