Jurgen Klopp Liverpool
Liverpool have progressed to the fifth round of the Carabao Cup following Wednesday night’s 2-0 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale. Takumi Minamino opened the scoring shortly after the 60 minute mark before Divock Origi sealed the win with an acrobatic finish 15 minutes later. Jurgen Klopp handed opportunities to a number of youngsters, including Harvey Blair and Tyler Morton, while Conor Bradley, Elijah Dixon-Bonner and Owen Beck all made an appearance off the bench. Neco Williams has already made 28 senior appearances, but was handed some much-needed minutes against Preston. He started the match right-back, but was moved further up the pitch when Bradley came on in the second-half. Regardless of the positional change, Williams has said he’s happy to ‘play anywhere’ under manager Jurgen Klopp.
Neco Williams said: “I felt I had the energy in the first half, I was playing as high as I can so wherever the gaffer [Klopp] puts me I’m happy to play. He can put me striker or goalkeeper, I’ll play anywhere. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. They are a good side and gave us a tough game. We didn’t play our best football but we got the win and we’re happy with that. I’ve got to thank Taki [Minamino] and Divock [Origi] for saving me but great finishes. The team put a shift in and we worked our balls off and got the win. The ball smashed me in the mouth and I couldn’t remember much but I was on the line and thought I’d give myself a chance to block it and I put my body on the line. I’m fuming I didn’t get on the scoresheet but hopefully next game I can score. I think I did well. I gave everything I had. I got a bit of cramp towards the end but thats from hard work. All the lads put a shift in, from the goalkeeper to the strikers. I’m thankful we got the win.”
Williams also registered an assist for Minamino’s goal with a dangerous run into the box, before his cross was met by the Japanese inte rnational.At 0-0 in the first-half, the 20-year-old also took a ball to the face to produce a goal line clearance, which kept the Reds in the game during a spell of dominance from the hosts.
