The Reds produced a stunning first half performance, scoring three goals through Ibrahima Konate's opener and Sadio Mane's double.
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was delighted with his side’s performance in the 3-2 win against Manchester City in the FA semi-final on Saturday. The Reds produced a stunning first half performance, scoring three goals through Ibrahima Konate’s opener and Sadio Mane’s double. Although Man City came out all guns blazing after the interval, reducing the deficit immediately before Bernardo Silva’s late strike set up a tense finale, but Klopp ‘s side stood firm and secured the victory.
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? “I think in this moment it’s really important to say as well, because it was really special and we all felt it was really special, the atmosphere our people created here was second to none.”
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 16, 2022
The opening goal arrived from a set piece in the 9th minute. Konate rose above Nathan Ake to get on the end of Andrew Robertson’s corner and headed home past Zack Steffen into the back of the net. It was the central defender’s third goal in as many games.
The Reds then doubled the lead on 17 minutes after an error by goalkeeper Steffen, who was in for Ederson. John Stones passed the ball back to Steffen in goal, Mane sprinted to close down the American keeper and made a sliding tackle, bundling the ball into the net in the process.
Mane completed his double just before the half time. Thiago played a nice little one-two with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the edge of the box before chipping the ball to Mane on the right side of the penalty area. The Senegal international’s first-time volley flew into the bottom corner at the near post.
“I think it was [one of our best performances],” Klopp said. “That was the feeling I had when I saw the first half because of the quality of the opponent.
“We did all the right stuff, we scored in the right moments; we played an incredible game in the first half, I have to say. I loved each second of it.
“To deny them in so many moments is so difficult, as is creating your own opportunities against them. The first half was outstanding in pretty much all parts of the game. The second half they scored an early goal, like we did [at the Etihad], and then the game opened up.
Mohammad Salah spurned a glorious chance to kill the tie when he chipped wide following a poor backward header from Oleksandr Zinchenko. However, Alisson made some fine saves to secure the victory. The Reds will face either Chelsea or Crystal Palace in the Final of the FA Cup on 14 May.
“No footballer on the planet is safe against City with a 3-1 lead, it is always clear what they can do. We needed Alisson, what a game he had, but we had our moments as well, and could have decided the game earlier. We didn’t do it, but that made the game even more special, 3-2 was a fair result and it was good enough to bring us to the final.”
