Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits Daniel Sturridge has to be handled with more care in future as the injury-plagued striker can not cope with playing three times in a week.
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“Frozen ground is for other sports, usually”, said Klopp.
‘We saw the pitch and we knew what could happen but as a professional football manager you cannot talk about the pitch beforehand.
“Of course Christian Benteke didn’t do so well, but I’d say like a few players who were not in their best shape on this day at Newcastle”.
FC Sion, on the other hand, are in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages themselves – all they need to do ensure that they do not lose at home to Liverpool. “We have to help him be more resistant for all the games we have”, the German added. Nobody is injured, and they were very focused and concentrated on the game, so everything is OK.
There was a moment in the second half that summed things up nicely – with Sion striker Ebenezer Assifuah failing to inspire, Didier Tholot made a decision to switch things up and introduce winger Mujangi Bia to the fray only to have one his first contributions to proceedings be a shot from distance that went out for a throw-in.
The result in Switzerland meant both teams progressed to the Europa League knockout stages with seemingly little advantage in finishing first or second.
“Everyone will have to change their mind about this tournament now as everyone will see it is something like a small Champions League”.
Still, we got the result we needed, if not the performance the fans wanted to see.
There was a temptation to have Firmino play with Coutinho to hopefully rejuvenate his form, but that’ll come Sunday.
“What we did was a real victory and we are very proud”.
Divock Origi came closest to breaking the deadlock, but the Dutchman’s finishing let him down in the half chances that were presented to him.
Henderson didn’t play a part in the 2-0 loss at Newcastle as he is nursed back from injury, but he is an important cog for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp tries to get some momentum for the Reds after the surprise loss at St. James’ Park.
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The arrival of Philippe Coutinho on the hour for his first appearance in four matches following a hamstring injury offered some hope of an increased goal threat, but Sion’s goalkeeper Andris Vanins thwarted Origi.
