Klopp said last week that the 26-year-old defender needed to prove his match fitness.
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“We didn’t care about it before we played Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal – not the name, not the players – only focusing on the style of play, what we have to do, where are our opportunities, where is the space we can create”. It was wonderful to watch. “All in all, really good”, he said.
The remarks risk aggravating his relationship with Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who has not picked the centre back since he was banned for failing a drugs test in April.
The home side, already ahead through Adam Lallana, looked poised to score every time they pressed forward with Sadio Mane making it three before the break with his 11th goal in his last 13 league games for Southampton and Liverpool. It was a professional second half from the players.
Liverpool’s attacking trio of Coutinho, Mane and Firminho may have been the reason for causing havoc among the Tiger’s defence, but it was the defensive solidarity which allowed Liverpool to maintain control throughout the game.
“But we’ve started well, I’m not going to chastise the players over certain situations because they’ve done really well”. “He has the talent and the skills”.
“He’s a pressing player because he loves to do it”.
“Nothing happened and then we played football. That was very important, because we scored the goals right and all that stuff, but winning the ball back is so important and it becomes really hard for the opponent to increase confidence”.
Mamadou Sakho threw his Liverpool future into further doubt on Saturday morning after apparently claiming Jurgen Klopp was purposely keeping him out of both the senior and the reserve squad.
– Adam Lallana has scored four goals in his last eight league appearances, as many as in his previous 42 in the Premier League. They dominated without banged-up star forward Daniel Sturridge in the starting lineup.
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After the interval Hull pulled a quick one back, but a Philippe Coutinho wonder goal restored the three goal lead and a second Milner penalty completed the rout. And on his 54th birthday, too.
