Happy Jurgen three and further clear
Chamberlain on target as Reds take the Cherries
JURGEN KLOPP hailed it a “perfect” day after unbeaten Liverpool stormed back 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Three sparkling goals, including one from fully-fit Mo Salah, and a first clean sheet in 15 games ensured the league leaders enjoyed a trouble-free afternoon against injury-hit Bournemouth.
And Reds boss Klopp, having seen his side forced to produce so many late comebacks already this season, was delighted at the ease of their 3-0 romp.
The German said: “It was a professional performance.
Controlled, scoring wonderful goals. It was perfect.
“We didn’t want to make it exciting again.
“It does not happen every week. We’ve had so many games where we’ve had to chase to the last second because we were 1-0 down or it was 1-1.
“Then you have this really rare comfortable situation, when you are 3-0 up and you control the rest of the game.
From 3-0 nothing really happened and the players didn’t like it too much. But I didn’t want to see any unnecessary risk.
“I didn’t want that. Maybe it wasn’t the most exciting but it was necessary.”
As for not conceding for the first time since their away win at Sheffield United back in September, Klopp revealed that made the trip to the South Coast even better.
He added: “That’s great. We should have them more often.”
IT MAY be the time of year for giving but Liverpool are in no mood to show any Christmas charity to their title rivals. Jurgen Klopp’s runaway leaders stretched their advantage at the Premier league summit to a bumper 11 points, for 24 hours at least, courtesy of a comfortable stroll on the South Coast. Excellent first-half strikes from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, plus another after the break from magnificent Mo Salah, put depleted Bournemouth to the sword. And having watched his Reds make light of the first of seven games in 21 days, Klopp was in a seriously festive mood.
Asked if the idea is to be like Scrooge in December and give nothing away to the chasing pack, the Reds supremo said: “Christmas is after Qatar. I’m sorry but I can’t think that far ahead.
“It was a super performance. Super individual performances and the team performance was really mature and professional, which is what we needed. “From 3-0 on we controlled the game absolutely so nothing really happens anymore. The players didn’t like it too much – but I didn’t want to see any risks.”
Of course, the German would love his Champions League holders to reach the knockout stages, with a point in Salzburg next week and have a decent crack at the World Club Cup in Qatar.
However, those competitions, and the Carabao Cup, mean nothing to the Anfield masses this season.
No way. The only thing that counts is Klopp’s class of 2019, now unbeaten in 33 league games, end what will be 30 years of title hell by lifting the big one.
Judging by this side and a first clean sheet in 15 they have little to fear despite the hectic holiday fixture list.
Klopp underlined the importance of this clash, making seven changes from the side that thumped Everton 5-2 in midweek.
Which was not the news opposite number Eddie Howe wanted. After all, while Liverpool are unstoppable, the hosts kicked off having lost four on the bounce.
Things started poorly and in the 32nd minute Nathan Ake pulled a hamstring denying Salah.
Before sub Jack Simpson and partner Chris Mepham adjusted, Bournemouth were undone by Jordan Henderson’s superb ball for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s opener.
Mepham was napping as the England midfielder’s pin-point pass flew over him – and the Ox converted with a beautiful first-time volley.
By the break it was almost game over as Trent Alexander-Arnold, on for injured Dejan Lovren, set up Keita for his sharply taken effort.
After 53 minutes it really was wrapped up when Salah capped his sizzling display with the third.
Howe said: “The game seemed to hinge on Nath’s injury.
“We have to end this run of defeats so our long injury list is a huge concern. This is the biggest challenge we’ve faced in the Premier League.”