KLOPP: WE’LL BE A BIG THREAT IN KNOCKOUT
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HAMMERING GIVES LIVERPOOL BOSS BOOST FOR LATER STAGES
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side can be a threat in the knockout stages of the Champions League – if they maintain their devastating form in front of goal.
Last night’s clinical 7-0 win over Spartak Moscow took their tally for their European campaign 23, the second-highest in the competition’s group stage history behind Paris StGermain’s 25 this year.
The Reds have scored 32 goals in an unbeaten ninematch run since losing to Tottenham in late October and are hitting top form at precisely the time they began to run out of gas 12 months ago.
That should hopefully bode well for when the Champions League restarts in February.
Asked if his side would be a threat in the last 16, Klopp said: “If we perform like this tonight, if we are that clinical, then yes.
“But we had the same players already and they didn’t score (in some previous games).
“If we perform like this then it is obviously a threat, 100 per cent. If you see how Dom Solanke performed in Stoke, how Daniel Sturridge performed when he came on, he could have scored two or three, he made a goal for Sadio, that’s good.”
Philippe Coutinho led the way with his first Liverpool hat-trick.
Sadio Mane produced a superb volley and tumbling tap-in to sandwich Coutinho’s deflected shot for his treble – the first by a Liverpool player in the Champions League since Yossi Benayoun in 2007 – with Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, courtesy of his 18th goal of the season, also netting.
It meant Liverpool topped Group E and avoided the likes of PSG, Barcelona and Roma but could still draw Bayern Munich, Juventus or Real Madrid. “We knew if we won we would top the group so that’s not the biggest surprise but I think it’s strange this year in the group stages,” Klopp added.
“There are a lot of really strong teams. This year is quite special. Not often you can face Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, but Juventus and all the others.
“Antonio Conte (Chelsea manager) said it yesterday there are no easy opponents and I don’t think anyone is happy when they get us in the draw. We will not be happy