Jurgen Klopp’s side managed a 1-0 victory over West Brom that leaves them chasing a top four finish. The German manager confessed he considers the away game to West Brom to be “one of the most difficult places to play”.
It was a victory that above all showcased Liverpool’s defending strength. Firmino scored the game’s only goal through a header from Milner’s cross in the box. Klopp’s side then held on to the result, with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet on for his side.
Mignolet’s safe hands were needed especially in the last minutes of the game. West Brom piled on the pressure and had a great chance through Matt Phillips. The keeper was there to keep the ball out. Mignolet says the team knew what to expect today.
“If you come away to West Brom you know what to expect and you have to deal with it,” Mignolet told reporters at Sky Sports. “A lot of people have said we can’t deal with that style but we proved that we can. You know in the last 10 minutes they are going to throw everything at you. We defended well. We scored one goal and that was enough.”
https://twitter.com/LFC/status/853624249856217090/photo/1
Manager Jurgen Klopp admitted that 1-0 was never going to be a safe result against a team like West Brom. The German praised his team’s concentration. “It is one of the most difficult places to come because in no game can you feel comfortable,” Klopp told reporters after the game.
“Somebody asked me which result would have kept me a little bit calmer in the last few minutes and I said only 4-0 after 86 minutes! Maybe then I would have felt okay, but now it’s done.”
“With West Brom, it is not only set pieces, they have really good footballers on the pitch and if you’re a little bit less aggressive then immediately they use their threat around set-pieces to play football because you don’t want to go in with real challenges. That makes it really difficult, so you need to be at your highest concentration level – but we have been. This is one of the most difficult places.”
Klopp: “This is one of the most difficult places. I would only be comfortable at 4-0 after 80 minutes!”
A hard-fought three points indeed. pic.twitter.com/QITiT9LvWp
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 16, 2017
The victory leaves Liverpool in third place. The team have six more games to fight it out with the two Manchester sides for this position. Liverpool looks set to earn a Champions League place for next year. It’s the change the board were looking for and Klopp is enjoying the full appreciation of the club’s fans.
