Klopp delighted Reds deliver despite Late wobble
Anfield manager happy with performance and result, while Postecoglou sees positives in defeat Moyes admits Hammers lacked ‘mental toughness’ in thrashing
JURGEN KLOPP felt his Liverpool team delivered in terms of performance and result as they put their title heartbreak aside to beat Tottenham. The Reds’ hopes of winning the Premier League were effectively ended by a series of frustrating results over the past few weeks. But with the pressure off, the Merseysiders were closer to their fluent best as they dealt a blow to Spurs’ top-four prospects at Anfield.
Klopp, who now has just one more home game remaining before standing down as manager at the end of the season, said: “I really liked the way the boys played. I liked the individual performances, how we played together. So many good things.
“It was a really good football game, and I think that’s what everybody should expect from us – results as well. We delivered both.”
Liverpool stormed ahead as Mohamed Salah put his recent spat with Klopp behind him to head the opener before Andy Robertson tapped in a second.
Cody Gakpo added to the lead with a fine header and Harvey Elliott curled in a sublime fourth from outside the area.
Yet after Spurs rallied with goals from Richarlison and Son Heungmin, Klopp admitted the closing stages were uncomfortable.
He said: “Did I expect us to be 4-0 up? No. Did I expect us to be at 4-2 and Ali [Alisson Becker] having to make two more worldie saves? No.
“But when you think about it, it’s not unlikely because before the game, for Tottenham, if they win they are fully back in the fight for the Champions League. For us it means we are third. We cannot change that any more, probably, in either direction.
“What you saw as well was Tottenham is Tottenham, they are really good and when you let them do that then they’re especially good.”
Klopp had special praise for Salah, saying: “Mo was outstanding and really happy for him that he could play the way he played today. We can see what he’s capable of.”
Elliott admitted Liverpool were motivated by their recent poor run of results.
“There was motivation to go out there and put it right,” he said. “We all know the last couple of weeks we ain’t been good enough, that’s a fact and today was an opportunity to put it right at home and the boys went out there and did a great job.”
Spurs’ defeat was their fourth in succession and meant they squandered a chance to cut the gap to fourth-placed Aston Villa, who lost earlier in the day.
Head coach Ange Postecoglou, however, felt his team at least showed signs of improvement.
The Australian said: “Obviously it was a hugely disappointing outcome for us but at least we were more like ourselves today in terms of our football.
“Even in the first half, some of our football, our pressing, was back to where it should be.
“But we lacked a real cutting edge for sure. We just had nothing in that front third, and that allowed Liverpool to get comfortable.
“And when they got forward their front guys were quite lethal in pouncing on our mistakes.
“So yes, 4-0, we’ve got a mountain to climb but, when we play like ourselves, we always finish strong.”
Postecoglou played down an incident as the players left the field at half time when goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario stepped in to defuse a heated exchange between Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal.
He said: “They care. It hurts them. They’re not going to just be happy with the current situation. They want it to improve.
“So there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, as long as it’s done in a constructive way.”
Asked if Liverpool were a good model in terms of showing patience with managers, Postecoglou added: “I think there is a process there, when you look at the teams at the top what they’ve gone through, but they’ve got to find the right man for that and the jury’s out whether that’s me.”
Tottenham captain Son urged his team-mates to stick together.
“In the tough moments it’s a great opportunity to be even tighter and stronger; the lads fight to the end but it was a tough, tough afternoon,” he said.
“At the start of the season when we played well and everybody was joyous there was no pressure there, so obviously now is the time everybody has to step up – this is the opportunity we can get even stronger and get it together. Everyone has to help each other. We have to hold this pain and keep working hard to get better.”
DAVID MOYES said West Ham lacked “mental toughness” as the pressure on his job intensified with a thrashing at Chelsea.
Reports have suggested that the club are lining up former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui to replace the 61-year-old, whose contract is up at the end of the season, and his cause was not helped by a Stamford Bridge capitulation in which their slim hopes of qualifying for Europe for a fourth straight season were effectively ended.
Moyes, who saw his team concede five goals for the second Premier League away game in a row, having gone down 5-2 at Crystal Palace on April 21, is set to hold talks with the board over his future after the Hammers’ final league match on May 19.
“Not good,” he said of his team’s display in west London. “Lacking toughness, leadership, mental toughness. That’s two games we’ve come away where we’ve conceded five.
“The manager will always take the responsibility, that’s what happens when you do this job. You have to prepare them, set them up. But somewhere along the line the players have to take responsibility for doing their jobs and being hard to play against, and being aggressive and competitive. I question if we were all that in the first half.”
Long before half time, West Ham looked a beaten side, standing off Chelsea and allowing their forward players all the space they needed to pick their way through and plunder Alphonse Areola’s goal.
Cole Palmer scored the first, his 21st of the season in the league, capitalising when Kurt Zouma’s halfclearance landed at his feet, before Conor Gallagher volleyed brilliantly into the corner from a loose ball.
Noni Madueke nodded in the third, reacting quickest at the back post after Thiago Silva’s header flashed across goal from a corner.
And he passed up the chance to add to his personal tally when he
Did I expect us to be 4-0 up? No. Did I expect us to be at 4-2 and Ali [Alisson Becker] having to make two more worldie saves? No
unselfishly squared for Nicolas Jackson to tap in two minutes into the second half, as West Ham’s torrid afternoon showed no sign of easing.
They were unlucky not to register at least a consolation. It was an indictment of their misfortune that Jarrod Bowen struck the crossbar not once but three times, but it would not have substantially altered the feeling around this most comprehensive defeat.
Jackson completed their humiliation with his second late on to leave Moyes’ situation looking increasingly uncertain.
“Too many poor things within the game,” he said. “It’s happened several times this season, which I’ve certainly not enjoyed. I didn’t enjoy today at all.
“Players not in positions, running out of position and opening up too easily. I thought the second half we actually made it harder for them to score, but we gave away two ridiculous goals.”
Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose side are now seventh and in contention for European qualification, reflected on an accomplished afternoon as the Blues made it 22 goals in their last six home matches.
“I’m so pleased,” he said. “It continues the same feelings after Thursday [the 2-0 win over Tottenham]. It keeps the momentum. I think the performance was fantastic in all aspects.
“A few weeks ago I said I was so happy because we were so close to being in this position. That is the first step.
“After Tottenham, I said the way that we competed was fantastic. Then to give this momentum, the team is growing up very fast now. That is the minimum standard if we want to compete in this league.
“The objective for us is to be mature and to keep the momentum. To compete and keep improving every single game. Of course we are going to try to be in Europe. It will be good for the team and for the players to be in Europe next season.”