Babalola Oluwatomiwa
Social Member
Liverpool have stopped Leicester City from extending their lead on the EPL log on boxing day following their 1-0 win over the Claudio Raineri's men at Anfield stadium.
Christian Benteke, who came in as a substitute for Divock Origi in the 38th minute of the game due to injury scored the lone goal that gave the Reds the all important three points of the fixture.
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Klopp disclosed that last weekend's shocking defeat taught him some hard lessons which he used to prepare for this game, which has kept them 11 points shy of the current league leaders, Leicester City, who have 38 points from 18 games.
He said this after the game: “It was deserved, I think. We made a game which we should make in these circumstances, against this opponent, with the wind and the pressing of the opponent, and all these things.
“We played too complicated in Watford last week, we played how we in Germany say ‘in their cards’ – how they wanted us to play. Today we did much better.
“I was really pleased with what we did in the first half-hour and then we had to change. It was really difficult for Christian to come in; he didn’t warm up until then really and had to start immediately. It was difficult. It was a little bit more open.
“At half-time, we knew if we stayed concentrated we would get our chances because the players looked good and it was not too intensive for us in the first half, so we could do more in the second half.
“We made this one goal and after all the set-plays of Leicester, especially the throw-ins of Christian Fuchs, it was difficult and close and not easy to defend. But we did it with a lot of patience and that’s good, so we deserved the three points.”
Benteke was brought on shortly before the interval after Divock Origi, who had impressed with a series of intelligent runs and sharp hold-up play to that point, picked up an injury.
Klopp said: “I hope it’s not too serious, we will see. They spoke about a little cramp.
“You have been here longer than me; I didn’t know the word before I came to England, but ‘hamstring’ is the worst word of the year for me. It’s always hamstring, hamstring, hamstring. That’s the intensity of the game and the fixtures.
“We will see. I hope it’s not too serious. We have the next game in three days and six days the next, nine days the next – I hope he can play in one of these games.”
The decisive moment of the encounter came when Roberto Firmino picked out Benteke with a cross from the left and the Liverpool No.9 sent an unerring side-foot finish into the bottom corner.
Asked if that kind of contribution is likely to bring the Belgian into contention for a starting berth as the festive schedule continues, the manager said: “He did really well in the last week in training but for today, we decided on this starting line-up because of the things you saw from Divock in the first half an hour.
“We needed his speed today. Christian is a fast player, but Divock is a little bit more a player for these runs, these ways and what we needed behind the last line of the opponent. He did really well for us, so that was the decision.
“Christian came in and it was not easy in the first 10 minutes, but in the second half it was much better – he fought really intensively and worked hard for the team. He made his goal.
“I don’t know too many strikers who always get situations like this and he did perfectly in the situation. He had another chance close to the final whistle, but we have to see.”
There is little time to dwell on the satisfaction of inflicting only a second defeat of the season on Leicester, however – the Reds travel to Sunderland for their next clash on Wednesday.
Klopp added: “All of the games are really, really important. This is important too. We beat the leaders of the table – a lot of teams have tried to before and it’s not too easy, so I am really pleased with what we did today.
“We have to work on [things], recover really quickly – not as quick as other teams because they play on the 28th. We got the three points and now we go on.”
Christian Benteke, who came in as a substitute for Divock Origi in the 38th minute of the game due to injury scored the lone goal that gave the Reds the all important three points of the fixture.
Klopp disclosed that last weekend's shocking defeat taught him some hard lessons which he used to prepare for this game, which has kept them 11 points shy of the current league leaders, Leicester City, who have 38 points from 18 games.
He said this after the game: “It was deserved, I think. We made a game which we should make in these circumstances, against this opponent, with the wind and the pressing of the opponent, and all these things.
“We played too complicated in Watford last week, we played how we in Germany say ‘in their cards’ – how they wanted us to play. Today we did much better.
“I was really pleased with what we did in the first half-hour and then we had to change. It was really difficult for Christian to come in; he didn’t warm up until then really and had to start immediately. It was difficult. It was a little bit more open.
“At half-time, we knew if we stayed concentrated we would get our chances because the players looked good and it was not too intensive for us in the first half, so we could do more in the second half.
“We made this one goal and after all the set-plays of Leicester, especially the throw-ins of Christian Fuchs, it was difficult and close and not easy to defend. But we did it with a lot of patience and that’s good, so we deserved the three points.”
Benteke was brought on shortly before the interval after Divock Origi, who had impressed with a series of intelligent runs and sharp hold-up play to that point, picked up an injury.
Klopp said: “I hope it’s not too serious, we will see. They spoke about a little cramp.
“You have been here longer than me; I didn’t know the word before I came to England, but ‘hamstring’ is the worst word of the year for me. It’s always hamstring, hamstring, hamstring. That’s the intensity of the game and the fixtures.
“We will see. I hope it’s not too serious. We have the next game in three days and six days the next, nine days the next – I hope he can play in one of these games.”
The decisive moment of the encounter came when Roberto Firmino picked out Benteke with a cross from the left and the Liverpool No.9 sent an unerring side-foot finish into the bottom corner.
Asked if that kind of contribution is likely to bring the Belgian into contention for a starting berth as the festive schedule continues, the manager said: “He did really well in the last week in training but for today, we decided on this starting line-up because of the things you saw from Divock in the first half an hour.
“We needed his speed today. Christian is a fast player, but Divock is a little bit more a player for these runs, these ways and what we needed behind the last line of the opponent. He did really well for us, so that was the decision.
“Christian came in and it was not easy in the first 10 minutes, but in the second half it was much better – he fought really intensively and worked hard for the team. He made his goal.
“I don’t know too many strikers who always get situations like this and he did perfectly in the situation. He had another chance close to the final whistle, but we have to see.”
There is little time to dwell on the satisfaction of inflicting only a second defeat of the season on Leicester, however – the Reds travel to Sunderland for their next clash on Wednesday.
Klopp added: “All of the games are really, really important. This is important too. We beat the leaders of the table – a lot of teams have tried to before and it’s not too easy, so I am really pleased with what we did today.
“We have to work on [things], recover really quickly – not as quick as other teams because they play on the 28th. We got the three points and now we go on.”