Jurgen Klopp praised the defensive contribution of Trent Alexander-Arnold after a “special” victory edged Liverpool nearer the top four. Two own goals from Wout Faes wiped out an early Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall effort as the Reds came from behind to beat Leicester City 2-1 in the Premier League on Friday evening. The result means Klopp’s side have temporarily moved to within two points of the Champions League qualification places after earning a fourth successive top-flight win for the first time this season. And while admitting many of his players were below par, the Reds boss saluted Alexander-Arnold in helping quell the threat of Harvey Barnes.
Jurgen Klopp said: “Really good, and not the first time. It was good, and very helpful and important at those moments. Everybody knows how good Harvey Barnes is in those moments, Trent did especially well. We had a few really good performances but the majority weren’t on the top of their game, let me say it like this. I’m getting close to 1,000 games in the job and I’ve seen these games unfortunately pretty often. It’s very special when you can win them because these games will decide whether you get to where you want to be or not. That’s why it’s so important we could bring it over the line tonight and that’s what we did. Now we have just two days (until the next game at Brentford) and we don’t know exactly who can go again. But Brentford are in the same situation. We have had our problems with the way they play (in the past), we have to make sure we are ready for that. That’s all I’m concerned about at the moment.”
Klopp, meanwhile, has revealed Andy Robertson – who endured a difficult evening – played despite suffering an injury in the build-up to the game.
Jurgen Klopp said: “Before the game Harvey (Elliott) injured Robbo a little bit in the warm-up game, he hit him with the knee in the hip. It was a dead leg. He could play but at one point the muscle closed and he couldn’t play on.”
Elliott himself suffered an injury during the closing stages but Klopp is hopeful the youngster will be available for Monday’s trip to Brentford.
Jurgen Klopp said: “Harvey got a knock which is quite painful when you saw the situation but that’s it, I think.”