Klopp hopes his players would have proven to themselves that they can beat any team in their 4-1 defeat of City. PHOTO: REUTERS
Roberto Firmino scored his first Liverpool goal and set up two more as the visitors surged to a 3-0 lead inside the first 32 minutes at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, with Martin Skrtel rubber-stamping the victory late on after Sergio Aguero had reduced the deficit shortly before half-time.
Liverpool have now beaten champions Chelsea and City in successive away games and while they lie six points off the Champions League places, Klopp believes that vital self-belief is being forged. “What is important is that we can see and feel that there’s a development in our game,” he said.
The former Dortmund boss feels his side can improve further. “We can do better than tonight in many parts of the game,” he said. “Maybe not in counter-attacks, because they were really good, but of course we can defend better and we can start to believe in our strength.”
The German admitted his players seemed almost surprised at the way the first half had panned out. “At half-time, I said the lads have a little bit the feeling that they are surprised we are in the lead here,” he said. “That’s what we have to learn. It’s normal in football if you have quality — and we have quality — that you are in the lead.”
City manager Manuel Pellegrini, meanwhile, was at a loss to explain his side’s shortcomings and claimed that his players could not have played worse had they tried.
The hosts were second to the ball throughout the game and conceded possession with worrying frequency, while Pellegrini was correct to assert that his side “could have conceded at least three or four more”.
It was a particularly chastening night for Raheem Sterling, playing against his former club for the first time, who left the pitch to taunts of “Sterling, what’s the score?” from the away supporters.
But Pellegrini refused to discuss the 20-year-old’s display and also claimed that he had no regrets about his team selection, despite completely rejigging his midfield at half-time by sending on central dynamos Fernandinho and Fabian Delph for Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas.
“I will not explain the starting eleven,” he said. “If I had to choose the same starters, I’d choose the same starters. It was not one name or another name. It was a complete disaster, the whole team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2015.
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