SITTING GRITTY
Klopp hails stars for digging out ‘mature’ victory
JURGEN KLOPP defended the manner of Liverpool’s slender victory over Brighton, saying: “We have to deliver – we’re not the Harlem Globetrotters.”
The Reds got back to winning ways thanks to Mo Salah’s 50th-minute penalty at the Amex Stadium.
Liverpool established a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League following the Egyptian’s 14th league goal of the season.
And Klopp (right) was delighted with the maturity shown by the title-chasers.
He said: “We’re not the Harlem Globetrotters, we have to deliver
results. And to do that we need to give a performance. It wasn’t the best performance of the season in a lot of departments.
“But from a maturity point of view it was the most mature.
“It’s so important. On good days, a lot of football teams can win games.
“So this was not a bad day. It was a difficult day. Brighton are doing really well. They do their system so well. Sometimes, if it’s not clicking for you, then you get annoyed.
“And then the performance really drops.
“We had a constant level in a really difficult game.”
Salah won the penalty and converted it himself, showing no sign of nerves as Brighton failed to register a worthwhile effort on the visitors’ goal.
Klopp added: “It was a clear penalty. Then we had to stay calm, keep the ball, try to create without taking any risk.
“Today was not a day for a massive scoreline. Brighton didn’t open up completely.
“They defended like they did because one mistake from us and they were back in the game. It’s impossible not to make mistakes.
“But it’s important not to make decisive ones – and we didn’t.”