QUAD’S STILL ALIVE!
No thanks to Klopp! Boss admits he gave duff penalty advice before Liverpool sink Chelsea to seal trophy No2
LIVERPOOL claimed the second leg of a potential historic Quadruple by beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final — but only after they nearly blew the penalty shoot-out with some dodgy advice from manager Jurgen Klopp.
Both Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk went off injured during the goalless 120 minutes before Kostas Tsimikas struck the winning penalty, though Liverpool are confident both will be fit to face Real Madrid in the Champions League final at the end of the month.
Klopp, who has become the first manager in Liverpool’s history to win the European Cup, League Championship, FA Cup and League Cup, admitted his blunder had almost cost his team.
When Sadio Mane stepped up with Liverpool’s first chance to win the shoot-out, Klopp urged him to change his usual finish against Senegal team-mate Edouard Mendy — and Mane’s effort was saved.
‘Sadio’s penalty is 50 per cent my responsibility. I told him the goalie knows exactly what you normally do so do it the other way round. How often in my life is it better to shut up! But we still made it after an incredible game. We work with a neuroscience company [neuro11] who said they
could really train penalty shooting. This trophy is for them as well.’
Apart from Mane, all Liverpool’s takers were successful in a 6-5 shoot-out win.
All attention will now be on Liverpool’s bid to make history by sweeping up the Premier League and Champions League. They are likely to meet Southampton on Tuesday night without Mo Salah, who was replaced after 33 minutes yesterday with a tight groin, and Virgil van Dijk, who felt a twinge behind his knee.
‘We had to change Mo early but it was a precaution move. He said he felt something but could carry I have spoken to both already,’ said Klopp. ‘Both are really OK, it’s not a big thing but we play the next game on Tuesday. They might be fine but I would be surprised. The best physiotherapy is winning football games.’ Luis Diaz was voted man of the match. ‘What a boy, what a player, but he should have scored,’ quipped Klopp.
And although Liverpool are long odds to win all four titles with City also carrying a superior goal difference, Klopp will never completely give up on his players.
‘My team knows exactly what I think about them,’ he said. ‘It is outstanding that we can even talk about the Quadruple. But we sit here on Saturday night and we play again Tuesday in Southampton and I have no clue who is ready. I think we’ll have to make a few changes.
‘The Quadruple is on if you want but off as well because of the situation we are in. But I was probably the only one who thought we could close on City when we were 14 points behind.’
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said: ‘We are sad but proud as well. I was sure until the last minute we would win.’