Klopp revels in Liverpool’s ‘insane’ 25-point lead
LONDON: Juergen Klopp described his team’s 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League as “insane” after marked his return from injury with a late goal to give Liverpool a 1-0 win at storm-hit Norwich on Saturday.
The champions-elect were short of their fluent best in blustery conditions caused by Storm Dennis at Carrow Road but returned immediately to winning ways after their winter break.
Bottom club Norwich were proving a tough nut to crack for Klopp’s team but Senegalese forward Mane, who came on as a substitute on the hour, pounced to drill home a fine finish from inside the area in the 78th minute.
It was his first appearance since going off injured in Liverpool’s win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan 23 and he marked it by claiming a 100th goal in English football.
Liverpool have now gone 43 topflight matches unbeaten, just six behind Arsenal’s record of 49 games in 200304 and are sprinting towards their first league title for 30 years.
Liverpool have earned 103 points from the past 105 available to them in the Premier League, winning 34 of their past 35 matches, and have one more point — 76 — than Manchester United accrued in winning the league in 1996/97.
Klopp said the wind and Norwich’s organisation made it a tricky game but that his players remained calm.
“I could tell in all the players’ faces that they weren’t nervous, they were enjoying it, and if one team was going to score it was going to be us,” he told Sky Sports.
“We protected against the counterattack well too. It’s really all about these wonderful football players.
“The gap is so insane, I don’t really understand it. I’m not smart enough. I’ve not had that before. It’s outstanding, it’s so difficult. I go back into the changing room and we chat about the things and then I’m like ‘oh, but congratulations. We won the game, another three points.’”
VYDRA STUNNER LIFTS BURNLEY
Matej Vydra’s stunning strike earned Burnley a 2-1 victory at Southampton to move them into the top half of the table on a wet and wild Saturday at St Mary’s Stadium.
The Czech player, who replaced injured Burnley striker Chris Wood midway through the opening half, had hardly had a sniff of goal but produced a dazzling finish on the hour.
Vydra’s strike, a stretching left-foot effort after a superb chest down and turn on the edge of the area, was a sickener for Southampton, who looked the more likely winners after former Burnley player Danny Ings equalised in clinical fashion in the 18th minute after Ashley Westwood’s bizarre second minute opener.
Westwood placed the ball for a corner kick and struck a low, curled shot straight into the goal, with Ings at fault for opting to let it go past him at the near post rather than blocking it.