Liverpool registered an impressive 5-1 victory over FC Porto at Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday in the Champions League Group B match.
Follow Us
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was understandably satisfied with his team’s emphatic 5-1 victory over FC Porto at Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday night. Goal machine Mohamed Salah and second-half substitute Roberto Firmino scored a double each, while Sadio Mane was also on the scoresheet in Portugal. As a result of the win, the Reds remain at the top of Champions League Group B. Liverpool are currently two points clear of Atletico Madrid after two rounds of matches. Speaking about what pleased him most about the performance, Klopp said in his post-match press conference, “That we had a tricky start because obviously Porto watched the Brentford game, started pretty direct.”
“We struggled a little bit in the beginning but that’s the reason why we didn’t make a lot of changes, that’s because I wanted that we find the feedback on the pitch and sort the situation there and that’s what we did. From a specific moment on we played really good football. We didn’t use our big chances, we used two half-chances to score, to be 2-0 up.
“But we had really good football moments, we played good against a side who were fighting obviously for some parts of the game because they lost a centre-half after, or in, the Atletico game and the other centre-half today after warming up. We know best that things like this are not helpful and when you play then against us it’s even worse. So, we used that. But we played, really, some good football and scored nice goals, but had even better chances. So, it’s all good for tonight.”
Jurgen Klopp also heaped praise on Curtis Jones’ performance in Portugal. He added: “Curtis played a good game. He had some problems a little bit with the stomach before the game; they told me I need to keep an eye on him but I told him after the game whatever it is, keep it because it was really a good game.”
“He played a really good game, he was everywhere, he was involved in everything. Set up the first goal with a surprising finish, goalie cannot save it. In a lot of other situations he was really there – maybe not as spectacular as the offensive stuff, but defensively he played a top-class game. He defended really well, pressed from the blind side, a lot of things I liked a lot about his performance tonight. So, let’s keep going, Curtis, it was not bad tonight.”
Providing a fitness update on Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jurgen Klopp said, “So the situation when you play Saturday and Tuesday, the players who start the game – which Trent obviously did – have on Sunday no training, they have recovery. On Monday, the only session we have together, we pretty much walk through the things. We have meetings and on the pitch we just show the difference between the opponents, so there was no intensity really in the session.”
“But Trent anyway in the middle of the session felt his adductor and in that area he has now a little injury. Obviously when you have something with your muscle, it’s not likely for Sunday – no muscle injury heals that quick. After that, it’s internationals. I don’t want to make the decision for him but what I heard, I don’t think it will be possible for him to be with the national team – but the other people have to decide that in the end. But hopefully after that he will be ready again, but we don’t know exactly.”
