Klopp of the charts for Christmas again after big hit
Jurgen hails his ruthless Reds
Jurgen Klopp saluted his Liverpool stars after a demolition job made them Christmas No.1 for the third successive season.
Takumi Minamino, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino (2), Jordan Henderson and Mo Salah (2) got on the scoresheet as the Reds recorded their biggest away win in the top flight.
Klopp said: “Everything was pleasing about this game – overcoming the problems in the first half with their counter-attacks, fighting really hard to avoid them scoring a goal.
“And, on the other side, top football, top finishing, keeping the ball in the right way, using the positioning.
“The boys did really well, it was really difficult to play against us.
“They all brought their f inishing boots. That’s the reason for the result. Our f inishing in the first half was clinical. Then, 3- 0 up at half-time, the game is not finished but we controlled it and scored wonderful goals.
“The boys are capable of this but it doesn’t happen every week. Here it all clicked for us.
“This is a very intense period, the boys should be very proud of it.
“I’m happy at the moment absolutely because it was a top game but at this time it makes no sense to be over the moon for something.
“I don’t think really about being top of the table, I’m just happy we won the game and we know have more time to recover than ever we had before this season.
“It’s a funny season, we lost 7-2 against Aston Villa and won 7- 0 here, which might cancel out the goal difference a little bit.”
Skipper Henderson was also full of praise for his side.
He said: “I thought we were ruthless and took our chances which is always important.
“We dominated the game for large periods but I still thought we were sloppy at times. Overall, we’re delighted with the performance. To finish this week off with the win after midweek is important and we managed to do that.”
“I felt it was coming as over the last few games we have had chances and not taken them, which has cost us at times.”
Palace actually enjoyed a decent spell of possession midway through the first half when they were just one down, having conceded early to Minamino’s first Premier League goal.
But as soon as Mane made it two, snatching a loose ball in the Eagles box ahead of Minamino, they never looked like coming back into the game.
Firmino made it three on the stroke of half-time, finishing a lovely move that started deep into Liverpool’s own territory.
Henderson curled home a lovely goal
at the start of the second half after Trent Alexander-Arnold had set him up.
Firmino added his second and Liverpool’s fifth with a lovely dink over Vicente Guaita.
Sub Salah wasn’t going to missss out on the feeding frenzy and headed ded home the sixth before curling a delicious finish past Guaita aita from outside the box.
Devastated Palace boss Roy oy Hodgson said: “There is nothing ng positive I can say about this.
“We are humiliated by the result. lt. We take it very, very badly.
“There is no point in dwelling ng on it. We have to learn the lessons s from it. It’s the first ever 7- 0 defeat I have suffered and d that goes for many people in the e dressing-room.
“We have to go through a little period of grieving after this. Every player has got to come to terms with it, has got to go home and accept that this has happened to us.
“I am devastated by the fact that it hasas happened.”app
Mo Salah will not rule out a move to Barceona or Real Madrid. When asked how long he will stayst at Anfield, the Egyptian hitmanhi said: “Madrid and BarcelonaBa are top clubs.
“Who knows what wi l l happenha in the future?”
TheTh Kop star admitted he was “veryve disappointed” at not being givengive the armband for Liverpool’s ChampionsCha League game at FC Midtjylland.M
Hesaid:H “I was hoping to be the captaincapt but it’s a coach’s decision. I acceptacc it.”