Klopp satisfied now
Liverpool belong in quarterfinals at last, manager says
AFTER ending a nine-year wait to reach the last eight, the Champions League quarterfinals is where Liverpool belong, according to manager Jurgen Klopp. Despite settling for a goalless draw in an uninspiring last 16 second leg game at Anfield on Tuesday, Liverpool eased past Porto 5-0 on aggregate, thanks to a comprehensive win in Portugal three weeks ago.
Klopp, who is only in his second full season in charge, said: “It feels really good.
“I think this year we belong there, to be honest – it should not be a big surprise
“The next round will be difficult, seven other very good teams, maybe four of them from England, which doesn’t make it easier.
“I think we will have a chance for sure to go to the semis – we’ll take it step-by-step and tonight it is cool.”
With the job done in Portugal, Klopp could even afford the luxury of starting topscorer Mohamed Salah and club-record signing Virgil van Dijk on the bench with one eye on Saturday’s vital visit to Manchester United in the Premier League.
“Now we can prepare for the Manchester game. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
Liverpool have made a habit of fast starts in Europe this season, but took time to warm to their task, with the German having made five changes in all from the side that beat Newcastle at the weekend.
It took 17 minutes for the hosts to threaten when Joe Gomez’s cross was acrobatically flicked towards goal by Mane, but looped just over the bar.
Mane was inches away from his fourth goal of the tie on the half-hour mark when he controlled James Milner’s lofted pass on his chest before smashing the inside of Iker Casillas’s far post.
Dejan Lovren then headed narrowly over as Liverpool threatened to raise the pulse of an understandably more subdued Anfield than is usual on a European night.
“Probably, if you draw away, then win at home, it feels different,” Klopp said.
“But the maximum you can achieve is the next round and we did that in a comfortable way.”
Casillas was given a standing ovation by the Liverpool fans in the Kop end as he took to the field after the break on his record 167th and possible farewell appearance in the Champions League.
Klopp, who embraced Casillas at full time, said: “I think he has more [appearances] than our whole squad.
“I think he obviously wants to play a bit more.”