Gini shows he has stomach for title fight
GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM has declared total confidence in Liverpool’s title challenge despite admitting it was squeaky bum time.
The Dutch midfielder revived
Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous phrase about close title battles after Liverpool had seen off Bournemouth.
But in Wijnaldum’s case it was nothing to do with nerves or pressure – just a stomach upset.
It forced him into quarantine from his team-mates 24 hours before the game, and caused an emergency dash off the pitch at half-time.
Wijnaldum scored a delicious lob against the odds after a sickly couple of days then revealed: “I was vomiting and everyone was a little bit scared. I didn’t train on Friday and I didn’t sleep at the team hotel.
“The manager called me and said, ‘Do you think you can play?’ Saturday morning I was still weak and had diarrhoea. After my goal, at half-time I had to run off to get to the toilet. I was like, ‘Oh no!’ I managed to control it!”
That’s the spirit. Liverpool were back on top form after dropping four points in two games, with Anfield raucous and the team playing with a swagger.
Sadio Mane opened the scoring and Wijnaldum’s lob made the game safe. After the break Mo Salah made it 20 for the season, finishing a brilliant move, including Naby Keita’s pass with the outside of his boot and Roberto Firmino’s back heel.
Liverpool are 14 points better off than last season after 26 games. The big question is can they see off Manchester City. “It is difficult, but we knew from the start it would be,” said Wijnaldum. “We have to give everything in every match and see where we are. What gives me confidence in Liverpool? Everything.
“The whole team. Drawing those last two games didn’t feel good. But you can see improvement in us. We just have to keep it going.”
Salah, Mane and Firmino,
LET’S GO: Klopp roars his Liverpool team on
LIVERPOOL BOURNEMOUTH
By have scored 44 goals this season, and Wijnaldum’s strike was the first in the league since Boxing Day not by one of the front three.
Trent Alexander-Arnold said: “We hardly put a foot wrong. I had never seen a 3pm game at Anfield on a Saturday like that before. The scarves, the flags, the banners – it was something new for me.”
Klopp stressed the role of the Kop in combating title-chasing tension.
“The crowd knows everything, but we are still human,” he said. “But it’s all fine, we all develop, we all improve, we really are so close together. A lot of supporters were there early for the warm up. That’s good. If we want to succeed, we need to do it together.
“We have an outstanding attitude, not just the players but the crowd as well. The crowd is the reason we have 65 points.”
Klopp hailed Keita’s best display for the club and said he will not lose faith in his £53million midfielder.
Keita, 24, ran the game from deep and Klopp said: “There is still a lot to come because he is still adapting. Sometimes it takes longer, that’s how it is. People lose patience, that’s normal – but we don’t. You have to talk and explain.
“He made a big move from Leipzig to Liverpool; he wants to do it right. Against Bournemouth it looked natural. It was the big step he needed.” Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser wants Liverpool to win the title, saying: “I like the way Liverpool play. People say they’re under pressure. They’re not, are they?”
Allison 6; Milner 7, Matip 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Wijnaldum 7 (Alexander-Arnold 76), Fabinho 8, Keita 8; Salah 8, Firmino 7 (Sturridge 90) Mane 7 (Origi 87).
Matip, Robertson.
Mane 24, Wijnaldum 34, Salah 48.
Bayern Munich (h), Feb
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Booked: NEXT UP:
19 CL.
BOURNEMOUTH (4-3-3):
Boruc 7; Smith 6, Cook 5, Ake 5, Rico 5 (Mepham 80); Gosling 5, Surman 5, Lerma 5 (Mousset 72, 5); Ibe 5 (Solanke 59, 6), King 5, Fraser 5. Smith, Rico. Wolves (a), Feb 23 PL.
A Taylor (Cheshire).
Booked: NEXT UP:
Referee: Goals: