Divock Origi plundered a hat-trick and Daniel Sturridge claimed a brace as Liverpool came from behind to destroy Southampton 6-1 yesterday and reach the League Cup semifinals.
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Divock Origi scored a hat trick – his first goals for Liverpool – after fellow striker Daniel Sturridge marked his latest return from injury with goals in the 25th and 29th minutes to spark the comeback. The England worldwide has hardly played over the last 18 months due to numerous injuries, causing the new manager to question his striker’s mentality, but the 26-years-old’s recent exploits have certainly boosted his manager’s confidence in him. But he has to learn and he has to be patient, that’s the truth…
Yet even after his first match as Liverpool manager, it was interesting man-management that Klopp should make a particular point of praising Origi and predicting that “we will have a lot of fun with this player”.
“I said to Sturridge after the game “now I know what everybody is talking about so thank you”, said Klopp.
“We spoke at half-time and I don’t like to say too often, “it’s 3-1…be careful”, but always in a cup game you can not ignore that because it’s not over unless you stay in the game, stay concentrated and start better than we did in the first half – and that’s what we did”.
As for Ronald Koeman and Southampton, they can at least now focus on their league campaign.
While Liverpool’s improvement under Klopp, especially away from home, has sparked a wave of renewed belief among their fans, they were second best and a long way off the pace as Southampton grabbed an early stranglehold on the tie. Within minutes it was all over, however, as Origi lashed home from Ibe’s pass and headed in a left-wing cross from substitute Brad Smith, either side of a drilled effort from Ibe.
The last time the sides met was back in April when Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners at Anfield thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen.
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Liverpool have won seven of their last eight matches and Klopp’s effect in revitalising the same group of players who appeared to have stagnated under predecessor Brendan Rodgers has generated some serious momentum. I changed the system, I made the risk of three at the back. Maybe we have to play more defensively, more (sitting) back, waiting.
