Klopp sorry for invading Anfield pitch
Keeper’s late howler gifts derby win to Liverpool
LIVErPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp last night apologised for racing on to the Anfield pitch to celebrate Divock Origi’s dramatic injury-time goal which gave his team a 1-0 derby victory over Everton. The German, 51, ran 40 yards from his technical area to embrace goalkeeper Alisson after substitute Origi punished a bizarre fumble by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford. The FA may investigate the incident and Klopp said: ‘After the game, I apologised to Marco Silva. I didn’t want to run. It was not my plan — I couldn’t stop, obviously. Not cool, but it happened.’ Pickford apologised to his team-mates and Everton fans for his costly blunder. ‘It was a freak one,’ said Pickford. ‘The ball spun and as I tried to flick it over, my hand hit the bar.’
WHEN Virgil van Dijk’s volley from the edge of the penalty area flew off his shin and headed into the sky, you could almost the hear the sounds of seats on the Kop flipping into the upwards position.
A frustrating afternoon against the neighbours was all but over. Even Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted that he immediately looked away.
But we should know that it is never wise to leave early at Anfield. There is always a chance something will happen and here, amid scenes of wild, almost disbelieving delirium, it was the turn of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to make an intervention that he may never be able to live down.
The scoresheet will say only ‘ Divock Origi 90+6’ but that will never tell the story. The young Liverpool substitute had made an impact in the 10 minutes he had been on. He had won a corner with an explosive burst down the right and from it he had hit the bar.
But this one was not down to him. This is a derby memory that was created by somebody else.
As Van Dijk’s hasty, desperate shot dropped from orbit, it looked like it would land over the bar. At the very least, it would have struck the top of the bar and bounced over. With so much added time already played, the final whistle would probably have followed.
However, Pickford appeared to lose his bearings in the lights. As a result of that, an experienced and talented international goalkeeper panicked. Jumping to palm the ball away, Pickford managed only to divert it on to the bar and back into play, where Origi was waiting to nudge it into the goal.
Origi should be credited for not giving up on the move. Like all good forwards are supposed to, he followed the ball when nobody else did. That apart, this one was down to Pickford and the wave of apology he gave to the away end as he left the field spoke volumes.
All around him by this time there was chaos as Liverpool celebrated. With Manchester City refusing to drop points, Liverpool cannot afford to either. They had played modestly against an Everton team who are much improved and had deserved a point.
But sometimes things happen in football that you just cannot account for and Pickford will play this one back in his muddled mind for weeks to come.
He had played well prior to that moment but that does not matter now. By the time he plays Liverpool again this season, there will no doubt be a song about him and it will not be sung by his own fans. This is a horror that will follow him for a while and how he deals with it will tell us much about him.
In truth, the 24-year-old had not looked like being beaten. Despite Klopp’s ongoing protestations, Liverpool are not as potent this season as they were last and it was precisely because of this that Origi was on the field at all.
As Liverpool chased the game, Klopp had taken off Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino and in their place arrived Daniel Sturridge and Origi. This said everything for the way that Everton had kept Liverpool at arm’s length throughout a very open game. Liverpool did have chances and they had the greater possession. You expect that at Anfield.
Sadio Mane missed the target when clear on two occasions — once in each half — and Xherdan Shaqiri was denied by Pickford’s left knee when Salah played him in after 33 minutes.
Later on Origi struck the bar from close range after Van Dijk headed down a corner and referee Chris Kavanagh waved away two penalty shouts and was probably right on both occasions.
But it was Everton who had the best chance of the whole game. With full back Lucas Digne and midfielder Bernard looking to overload Liverpool down the left, Marco Silva’s team carried a threat and missed a gilt-edged opportunity to shock Anfield after only 20 minutes.
ACROSS from Bernard reached Theo Walcott at the far post and when he headed it back across goal, Andre Gomes only had to nod the ball in from four yards. The save from Liverpool’s Alisson was fantastic but he should not have been given a chance. Then, as the ball dropped and struck the prone Everton player, it rolled towards goal only for Liverpool central defender Joe Gomez to halt its progress right on the line.
That felt like a pivotal moment and so it proved. Liverpool pressed hard in the second half but in Gomes and central defensive pairing Michael Keane and Yerry Mina, Everton had a formidable triumvirate in the central areas of their own half and between them they kept their opponents at bay for long periods.
When the dust had settled and Klopp had returned from his post-goal dash on to the field, Liverpool will know this was one they got away with. If they are to stay close to City, players like Salah and in particular Firmino must improve soon.
Gift goals like this one do not come along very often. It is not the only reason it will long be remembered. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 8; Alexander-Arnold 7.5, Gomez 6, Van Dijk 6.5, Robertson 6; Shaqiri 6.5 (Keita 70min, 6), Wijnaldum 6, Fabinho 6.5; Salah 6 (Sturridge 75, 6), Firmino 5 ( ORIGI 83), Mane 6.5. Subs not used: Mignolet, Milner, Moreno, Matip. Scorer: Origi 90+6. Booked: Shaqiri, Fabinho, Gomez. Manager: Jurgen Klopp 6.5 EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford 5.5; Coleman 6.5, Keane 7, Mina 8.5, Digne 6.5; Gomes 7.5, Gueye 6.5; Walcott 5.5 (Lookman 62, 6), Sigurdsson 6 (Zouma 90), Bernard 6.5; Richarlison 6. Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Tosun, Davies, Calvert-Lewin. Booked: Gomes, Sigurdsson. Manager: Marco Silva 6.5. Referee: Chris Kavanagh 6.5. Attendance: 53,195.