Jurgen Klopp vowed Liverpool will ‘work like hell’ to finish the job after performing a first-leg demolition on Manchester City.
Three goals in the space of 19 frenzied first-half minutes gave Liverpool a 3-0 win and put them firmly in control of their Champions League quarter-final; the emphatic nature of the result took everyone by surprise, not least Klopp who labelled City ‘the best team in the world’.
City’s team bus was destroyed before the game, when it was pelted with missiles by a minority of Liverpool fans, but Pep Guardiola insisted that shocking incident had nothing to do with the final score and insisted his side still had a chance to reach the last four.
Jurgen Klopp refused to celebrate after Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City at Anfield
With that in mind, Klopp said: ‘It was really, really good. We beat the best team in the world. I don’t think about things like whether this is my best performance here. I have never been part of the best team in the world but I always knew it is possible to beat them. It is rare because they are so good.
‘If I answer your questions the way you want me to, Pep only has to put the newspapers in the dressing room and say “Look what Klopp said!” We have to work like hell. We are not in the next round. Why should I celebrate it?
‘It was really good. They were two different halves, In the first we were very active, perfect in the spaces, lively closing the gaps. We used that really well, scored three fantastic goals. But we know we still have to improve.’
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring with his 38th goal of an incredible first season at Anfield
Mo Salah opened the scoring – his 38th goal of the season – but he was substituted with a groin problem. Klopp says the issue is not serious but his availability for the return at the Etihad will be touch and go. Captain Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, is suspended after being booked late on.
Klopp said: ‘Since I am here, nothing good without a bit bad. Mo came to the sideline and said he felt something. That was enough for me to not even ask the doctor. After the game I asked him and he said he feels fine so we have to wait for the diagnosis.’
Guardiola said: ‘The result is tough but I don’t have the feeling (we are out). The boxes make the difference and they were so good in those situations. I believe a lot in this team. They show me many good things in the season. We have 90 minutes. We are going to try.’
Advertisement