Jurgen Klopp hails sensational Liverpool
With Rashford sidelined, Solskjaer eyes signings
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp felt his side should have beaten Manchester United by a more emphatic scoreline than Sunday’s 2-0 victory, but was still left eulogising his team’s “sensational football”.
The European champions are now 16 points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the Premier League, with a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s team.
“I enjoyed the game a lot. I would have preferred we’re 2, 3, 4-0 up after 60 minutes – good for nerves,” said the German, with his trademark grin.
Liverpool took the lead through a Virgil van Dijk header in the 14th minute, but had to wait until added time to make sure of the win with a breakaway goal from Mohamed Salah.
Klopp though was forgiving of his players failing to turn spells of domination into a more emphatic victory.
“I understand sometimes concentration levels drop. In the past I would have gone crazy, but now I’m calm,” he said.
“We played sensational football. We could have scored more and maybe should have scored more.
“Then United came back at the end of the first half. In the second half we created chances and played super football. But we’re not in business since yesterday – we know they would come back and they did.”
Klopp said he was not surprised by the levels which his team continue to produce during a league season in which they have yet to lose.
“To be honest, not really. We had exceptional sessions (in training) against the kids – 11 v 11. The boys go like crazy. I don’t take it for granted, but I see them during the week so I’m not surprised.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford faces a lengthy lay off after his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed he had suffered a stress fracture.
“He’s suffered a bad injury,” said Solskjaer. “Yeah it’s a stress fracture, it happened against Wolves. It’s not happened before, it happened there and then.
“He’ll be out for a while. He won’t be back until after the mid-season break. Normally six weeks to heal, but I’m not a doctor, and then he needs rehab after that probably,” he told Sky Sports.
United are operating with a relatively thin squad, but are particularly short of options in the attacking area with no alternatives to Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood.
Solskjaer suggested that the loss of Rashford added to the need to bring in some new faces to the club.
“We’re always looking at chances to improve the squad – with Marcus out for a while we have to look at it closely. We might look at some short-term deals. We are looking at numbers,” he added.
As well as being a set-back to a United squad short of attacking options, the loss of Rashford is a blow to England manager Gareth Southgate whose main striker Harry Kane is also sidelined through injury.
United are fifth in the Premier League, 30 points adrift of Liverpool after Sunday’s defeat, but Solskjaer was pleased with the display his side gave against the European champions.
“The players gave us everything. Today we hung on a bit at the start of the second half, but the last 25-30 minutes we pressed them and pushed them back. I’m disappointed with conceding from a corner and with the last kick – but very many positives,” he said.
“I felt in the second half we performed really well against a good team and at a difficult place. We didn’t have quality with our finishing or last pass. (Midfielder) Fred was absolutely top and (goalkeeper) David de Gea. As a team we worked together as a unit.” | Reuters