Posted: 00:28, November 2, 2022 | Updated: 01:31, November 2, 2022
Jurgen Klopp has never doubted Liverpool’s quality and was delighted with the way his side bounced back from their latest setback by beating in-form Napoli in the Champions League. Having come closer than any team in English football history to winning an unprecedented quadruple, things have gone awry since falling behind in the Premier League and Champions League at the end of last season. Klopp’s Jekyll and Hyde side lost 2-1 at home to Leeds on Saturday night, dismissing talk that this Liverpool side had reached the end of its useful life. Jurgen Klopp insisted he never doubted the quality of his Liverpool squad The German’s side responded to that defeat with a 2-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday, with late goals from Mohamed Salah and substitute Darwin Nunez sealing a 2-0 triumph as they qualified from Group A as runners-up. “The reaction I wanted to see,” Klopp said after the win at Anfield. “We all agreed that we had to react and we did it in a very difficult game against a very good opponent. “We don’t doubt the quality. I don’t think anyone doubts that quality, but that’s part of the problem. We don’t show it consistently. “That’s why I mention the second goal against Leeds as an example of our situation. We chase the game even when it’s around our 18. You can see that nobody wants to cross for Leeds, then they can let time run out and nobody is protecting the box, pretty much, because everybody thinks we have three players out there and we will win the ball. Liverpool have lacked consistency this season but managed to prevail against Napoli “That’s kind of the situation we’re in. That’s where we need to take a proper step back and tonight we did that. “When we defended, we defended with everything we had tonight. We were really solid, very close in the challenges and then in the challenges we showed the determination we need to show. “Napoli are a real force at the moment so it could have been extremely difficult for us tonight, but the lads played a really good game. Again, consistency, consistency is what we need to get. We will take the good things out of this game and then start the next game against Tottenham.” Salah’s 85th-minute effort took him level with club great Steven Gerrard’s European record of 41 goals at Liverpool. Klopp was pleased with the impact substitute Darwin Nunez made against Napoli The Egypt international headed home after Nunez’s initial effort was saved, before the substitute scored for a third straight European game with the last kick in stoppage time. “Absolutely good,” Klopp said of Nunez’s impact. “In these games, for us, obviously it wasn’t a game for massive rotation because of the situation, but we had to a little bit and that’s why we didn’t start all three (regular forwards) because we have to see how you get a goal. “Curtis (Jones) did very well in an unfamiliar position for him. When you can bring in a new player with Darwin’s quality, it’s very helpful.” The only possible negative on Tuesday was James Milner going off injured for the already depleted Reds early in the second half. Asked about the seriousness of the issue, Klopp said: “I don’t know. He seemed to be fine now, but we probably need to do further checks.’
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title: “Jurgen Klopp Insists He Never Doubted Liverpool S Quality After Returning To See Off Napoli " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-12” author: “Sheila Burkett”
Posted: 00:28, November 2, 2022 | Updated: 01:31, November 2, 2022
Jurgen Klopp has never doubted Liverpool’s quality and was delighted with the way his side bounced back from their latest setback by beating in-form Napoli in the Champions League. Having come closer than any team in English football history to winning an unprecedented quadruple, things have gone awry since falling behind in the Premier League and Champions League at the end of last season. Klopp’s Jekyll and Hyde side lost 2-1 at home to Leeds on Saturday night, dismissing talk that this Liverpool side had reached the end of its useful life. Jurgen Klopp insisted he never doubted the quality of his Liverpool squad The German’s side responded to that defeat with a 2-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday, with late goals from Mohamed Salah and substitute Darwin Nunez sealing a 2-0 triumph as they qualified from Group A as runners-up. “The reaction I wanted to see,” Klopp said after the win at Anfield. “We all agreed that we had to react and we did it in a very difficult game against a very good opponent. “We don’t doubt the quality. I don’t think anyone doubts that quality, but that’s part of the problem. We don’t show it consistently. “That’s why I mention the second goal against Leeds as an example of our situation. We chase the game even when it’s around our 18. You can see that nobody wants to cross for Leeds, then they can let time run out and nobody is protecting the box, pretty much, because everybody thinks we have three players out there and we will win the ball. Liverpool have lacked consistency this season but managed to prevail against Napoli “That’s kind of the situation we’re in. That’s where we need to take a proper step back and tonight we did that. “When we defended, we defended with everything we had tonight. We were really solid, very close in the challenges and then in the challenges we showed the determination we need to show. “Napoli are a real force at the moment so it could have been extremely difficult for us tonight, but the lads played a really good game. Again, consistency, consistency is what we need to get. We will take the good things out of this game and then start the next game against Tottenham.” Salah’s 85th-minute effort took him level with club great Steven Gerrard’s European record of 41 goals at Liverpool. Klopp was pleased with the impact substitute Darwin Nunez made against Napoli The Egypt international headed home after Nunez’s initial effort was saved, before the substitute scored for a third straight European game with the last kick in stoppage time. “Absolutely good,” Klopp said of Nunez’s impact. “In these games, for us, obviously it wasn’t a game for massive rotation because of the situation, but we had to a little bit and that’s why we didn’t start all three (regular forwards) because we have to see how you get a goal. “Curtis (Jones) did very well in an unfamiliar position for him. When you can bring in a new player with Darwin’s quality, it’s very helpful.” The only possible negative on Tuesday was James Milner going off injured for the already depleted Reds early in the second half. Asked about the seriousness of the issue, Klopp said: “I don’t know. He seemed to be fine now, but we probably need to do further checks.’
