Klopp relieved after uncomfortable win against Villains

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen

Klopp has praised his team for their “uncomfortable” 2-0 win over Aston Villa yesterday.

The newly crowned champions struggled to get going until Sadio Mane gave them the lead at Anfield on 71 minutes, then substitute Curtis Jones added a second goal – his first in the Premier League – in the final moments of the game.

In their previous outing, Liverpool were beaten 4-0 by dethroned Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

“(It was a) very difficult game for different reasons,” Klopp said after yesterday’s win. “Aston Villa were obviously good, organised, made it really tricky for us. They wanted to have counter-attacks, stuff like that.

“The wind made it tricky for both reams, but obviously it was really hard today to play normal football.

“But we had chances to stay on track and had to do the right things more and more, and especially in the second half we had more of the good moments, when the positioning was slightly better and all that stuff.

“I think two situations could or should have been penalties, or more. We got a penalty (given against us) for arms and stuff like this against Man City, and today you don’t give these penalties, but people do exactly the same. So that’s a bit unlucky, but all the rest I’m completely fine (with).

“We are where we are because we won the difficult games and tonight was again a difficult one, but we won it… Aston Villa was fighting with all they have, tried to get here and there and attack and maybe finish.

“And that makes life uncomfortable, I like it. It was not a brilliant performance, but it was a good performance, which earned us three points.”

Klopp was also pleased with the goalscoring cameo of 19-yearold Jones.

“He has a lot of qualities obviously,” the German coach said.

“He comes on, the first situation is the dribbling and the finish, which I like – no lack of confidence. And then the next situation is a cross – with the wind not a perfect cross, but he made it happen that the ball comes inside again.

“Then he’s in a position (to score) in the six-yard box. So that’s exactly his strength, he wants to be there, he wants to be decisive, and that’s really good.

“He deserves the goal, he deserves the appearance and the game. I’m really happy for him.”

Liverpool are on course to beat Manchester City’s mark of 100 points in a Premier League campaign but the champions are not focused on breaking records, Klopp said after yesterday’s match.

“We didn’t come here and have the numbers we have because we thought about breaking records. We were always focused 100% on the game and that will not change,” said Klopp.

“If we want to have record points pretty much we have to win all the games, it’s not complicated. The boys know it and it’s not necessary to mention it to this group.” – The Independent