Klopp answers critics in style as Reds go top
LIVERPOOL 3 Mane (24), Wijnaldum (34), Salah (48) BOURNEMOUTH 0
Jurgen Klopp hailed the character of his Liverpool players after they rebutted doubts about their title credentials with a comfortable win over Bournemouth.
Goals from Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and Mohamed Salah sent Liverpool back to the top of the table – for 24 hours at least – as they responded to back-to-back draws against Leicester and West Ham, which had led many to question whether they could hold off Manchester City in the title race.
Klopp said he had not needed to listen to any of the criticism which came Liverpool’s way over the last few days to know a reaction was needed, but a reaction was what he got.
“We are very self-critical,” he said. “It was clear we were not happy with the two performances.
“There are reasons, but we cannot speak too much about that in public because it always sounds like excuses.
“But in analysing it we have to speak about the right things. You can win or draw for different reasons but you don’t want to just come through a game somehow.
“We want to play convincing football, we want to perform and that was the reaction we wanted.”
City had moved above Liverpool in midweek with a 2-0 victory over Everton, and were reinstalled as title favourites despite having played a game more, with many still believing that the pressure will get to Liverpool.
That pressure could soon be back on as City have the chance to reclaim top spot when they host Chelsea this afternoon, though Liverpool will be sunning themselves at a Spanish training camp by then.
“We have to learn and to adapt to a lot of situations,” Klopp said.
“It is not a big problem if you are three, five, seven points in the lead. That’s not a big thing, but we have to learn.”
Wijnaldum came back into the side in the only change from the 1-1 draw at West Ham on Monday, but it was a close-run thing as the Dutchman had been ill with “pretty much everything you don’t want to have two nights before a game”, his manager said.
“After a couple of hours sleep he said, ‘I feel good, I can play,” Klopp said. “The doctor said, ‘You are still infectious, stay away’. I was only concerned after he scored a goal and everybody gave him a hug.
“But playing a game like this shows us that the character and the mentality of these boys is the only reason we are where we are.”
Bournemouth began the game well, setting up in a 4-5-1 formation and successfully frustrating Liverpool in the early going.
But that all changed after they only half-cleared a corner in the 24th minute and Mane headed in from James Milner’s cross – a goal which frustrated Eddie Howe as Mane appeared to be offside.
“The first goal was a huge moment in the match,” Howe said.
“It was the second phase of a setpiece, half a yard offside, a huge turning point in the match.”
It is the sort of goal likely to be ruled out by VAR – something Howe is looking forward to next season.
“VAR will help us in those situations and I think that will benefit everybody,” he said.
“Goals like that where it’s tight, but offside, we’ll get the right decision.”