Jurgen Klopp has lauded Liverpool’s new-look front three after they all scored braces in the Reds’ emphatic 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United on Sunday. Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah all scored two goals apiece, before substitute Roberto Firmino wrapped up the scoring at Anfield. Considering the former two are new signings at the club, with the Dutchman only joining the club in January, made their impact even more impressive. And Klopp reserved special praise for the new attacking pair in particular, delighted to see both finding their feet and prove their worth in what has proven to be a bumpy season for the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp said: “In a way I think everybody saw how good the boys could be. Nobody was in doubt about Darwin’s future impact when he settles because he is a real force of nature. But Cody plays in the most difficult area in the pitch against a man-marking side which is super tricky. How he keeps himself on the feet and has the overview for everyone else. Mo is Mo. You could see today, and the other night against Wolves, that having Diogo back is super important that we can give the other boys breaks here and there.”
The attacking trio weren’t the only players Klopp praised, however. He was always delighted with the performances of Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliott in particular, before praising Liverpool midfielders Jordan Henderson and Fabinho as the pair continue to bounce back from challenging seasons to date.
Jurgen Klopp said: “Harvey played a top game the other night against Wolves,” he said. “Had the highest counter-pressing outcome of any player in the Premier League this season. If that is not a qualification for starting again, I don’t know one to be honest. He is super important for us on the ball as well. Hendo, didn’t start the last game. What a performance tonight, absolutely incredible. Fab is back! The last line, it’s in a better moment as well. It’s like it has to be. Everybody saw how good Kostas is in the last match. Real impact and set up a super goal. But Robbo is Robbo. He had 90 minutes break and I though he benefited from that today. A top performance today, a flying Scotsman! That’s a top situation.”
Meanwhile, Klopp also admitted he hopes his side have turned a corner when it comes to their injury woes this season, with their recent upturn in form coinciding with their list of absentees continue to shorten with each passing week.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I know we can play good football and we can play better football than we have shown at times this season, of course. But there is always a reason why we didn’t do it. It’s not that we don’t want it, especially when we lost the game before. You want to be the best version of ourselves immediately again. The main difference is we have now pretty much all players available which is super helpful. I think we have for the first time this season for the last two weeks or so, we have four or five players not in the squad who are training outstanding. Not in the squad so that’s the first time we have that. Before that we had nine or ten players injured and that’s not helpful. When you are on a good run, it doesn’t have that much of an impact as you get through this. But we started like this into the season and never got out of it. Hopefully we are out of the woods there. We all know nothing happened apart from a really special night tonight. We have to keep going and that’s what we will do.”
