Liverpool red-hot but cautious Klopp still playing it cool
FIVE minutes to play and Liverpool were easing their way towards a derby win when the Kop started up their hymn of praise to Jurgen Klopp.
Yet you can’t expect the conventional from the German manager.
There was no polite wave to acknowledge the fans. Instead, he screwed up his face with displeasure, pointed to his watch and called for calm.
The message was clear; nothing can be taken for granted.
‘I’m not that important,’ he protested afterwards, though clearly he is.
‘There were still five or six minutes to go, so how can they start singing this?
‘It’s a sign that we think the game is done. It’s only done at the final whistle.’
Every step now feels like a giant leap for Liverpool. Three points feels like a huge step towards the top four and the coveted Champions League.
‘Do you think we’re halfway there?’ asked Klopp, incredulous that anyone could suggest as much.
Bournemouth visit on Wednesday, a team which exposed Liverpool in December.
Navigating the emotions of the final weeks of the season will not be straightforward.
‘We played a good game, nearly everything was perfect, the performance was good,’ said Klopp.
‘But then we lose Sadio Mane to a knee injury. So life is not easier then.
‘We will be ready on Wednesday. Everyone who will be here start warming up already.
‘Because we need each voice for another outstanding performance.’
So, nothing can be taken for granted. Still, a derby against a resurgent Everton looked a fixture to encourage Manchester United and Arsenal, even if it was 1999 when Everton last won here.
But, as is their wont when Anfield is abuzz and the games are at their most intense, Liverpool reverted to their better selves.
It was an injury-ravaged and inexperienced Everton they faced.
Losing Seamus Coleman and Morgan Schneiderlin was just too much for Ronald Koeman’s side. Their youth was hopelessly exposed.
Philippe Coutinho and Mane provided the quality for Liverpool and Emre Can and Lucas Leiva controlled midfield.
For Everton, Matthew Pennington — in his first competitive start of the season, on the right side of a back three — was run ragged at times, yet kept his team in the game with his first goal at this level.
And then there was Ross Barkley. Following the awful tackle on Jordan Henderson earlier in the season in this fixture, he was under scrutiny — and he was extremely fortunate to have stayed on the pitch.
His seventh-minute challenge on Can was poor and merited a booking, rather than a lecture from referee Anthony Taylor.
When the caution finally came on 39 minutes, for a dreadful studs-up challenge on Dejan Lovren’s ankle, it might have been a red card.
Even his boss Koeman conceded: ‘Maybe Ross deserved two yellows.’
In between those fouls, Liverpool dominated.
Mane bamboozled Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams, Mason Holgate and Pennington before firing the opener after eight minutes.
Pennington then equalised on 28 minutes. However, the more natural order was restored three minutes later when Coutinho curled home an exceptional strike.
Divock Origi, on for the injured Mane, added the decisive third on the hour to send the Kop wild.