Klopp no doubt over character

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp i nsists he has no doubts about his side’s character as they snatched an added-time winner against Everton to stay on the tails of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Daniel Sturridge came off the bench after a month out with a calf injury to fire against a post in the fourth of eight added minutes and Sadio Mane knocked home the rebound f or a 1-0 victory.

The result moved Liverpool back above Manchester City into second place, six points behind Chelsea.

“Of course it i s about character but I was never in doubt about the character — but it was the situation,” said Klopp.

Klopp also praised Sturridge’s impact after he returned to full training this week after a month on the sidelines.

“You’re thinking ‘Is he really ready f or t his?’, because it’s not usual that a player can really help you after only two sessions but he really helped us at the end,” he said.

“It wasn’t the greatest football but you have to take it as it is and in the second half we took it.”

Everton boss Ronald Koeman felt his side did not deserve their defeat.

The manager thought Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren should have been red-carded for an off-theball clash with Seamus Coleman, after Ross Barkley could easily have been dismissed for a challenge on Jordan Henderson which sparked a melee.

“Yes, maybe it’s red for Barkley but it’s the reaction of several players, too — also Coleman but also Lovren and he already had yellow,” said the Dutchman.

“He gave Coleman a yellow but nothing to Lovren. It is not fair.”

Klopp, unsurprisingly, was i n agreement with Ko e m a n o n B a r k l ey ’s above-the-ankle tackle.

“I saw it was a really hard, harsh challenge,” said the German.

Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson and Everton’s Ross Barkley exchange words during the derby at Goodison Park.