Klopp gets the answer he wanted

JURGEN KLOPP wanted clarification. For four months, Liverpool’s last meeting with Manchester City had gnawed away at him and this was going to be the day when his question would be answered.

What Liverpool’s manager got instead was a statement; a spectacular declaration from his team that they are not a million miles from the runaway league leaders and that they can prosper without Philippe Coutinho following his £145million move to Barcelona.

This was the finest performance Liverpool have produced in the Premier League under Klopp — the 4-3 scoreline did not do justice to the brilliance of their attacking play — and went some way to avenging their 5-0 defeat by City in September.

Klopp said: ‘It is not that I said in the team meeting, “Boys, it would help if you could win and nobody speak about Phil Coutinho”, because we like to talk about him. He was probably jumping in his living room in Barcelona happy about the win.

‘It’s important for us to show it’s possible to play without him and we did that. It is a very important statement. We got City in an important moment and it feels good.’

Liverpool were exhilarating, their attacking trident of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino all scoring goals, but there were other notable performances from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and left back Andy Robertson, who had the Kop bellowing his name.

‘Maybe this is a historical day, maybe it is the only game City lose,’ said Klopp. ‘They are good but we deserved the win.’

And he was not concerned by City’s late rally. ‘I was not worried,’ said Klopp. ‘ If it ends 4- 4 everyone criticises, but I am happy with the performance. We played pressing from another planet.’