Beating illness to play a starring role

– Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum (left) is rarely the headline grabber for Liverpool but a special goal and an outstanding all-round performance in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth showed his value to Juergen Klopp’s team.

Wijnaldum’s display of pressing, passing and one sublime finish, was all the more remarkable given the state he had been in ahead of the game.

“He didn’t sleep in the team hotel last night. He had diarrhoea and vomiting two nights earlier so he couldn’t come to the team hotel,” said Klopp.

“He had pretty much everything you don’t want to have two nights before a game. Then he said, after a couple of hours sleep, I feel good, I can play,” he added.

Wijnaldum’s goal was a perfectly weighted lob over keeper Artur Boruc after the Dutchman had brought down a lofted pass from left-back Andy Robertson.

It showed another side of Wijnaldum’s game and that for all his aggression and work-rate in midfield, he also possesses a deft touch.

Klopp was also quick to set the record straight about skipper James Milner’s performance at West Ham on Monday, saying he had shown the same spirit as Wijnaldum and played while ill.

“It is the same like Milly’s character. I heard some were very critical of Milly’s performance last week, which is a joke,” he said.

After draws with Leicester at home and West Ham in London on Monday, Liverpool had seen their lead over City dissipate so this was a timely win. –