‘We’ve had mixed results but I feel we’ve finished this period strongly,’ said Elliott. They go into the World Cup break in better heart. Klopp is in the same illustrious company and even when unable to holler from the sidelines, his players deliver the goods. In his long career, Milner has played for Terry Venables, Sir Bobby Robson and Pep Guardiola. The biggest cheer of the afternoon arrived when Milner replaced Elliott. While Liverpool’s defence looked fragile, they looked dangerous at the other end and Salah was incredulous when he fell during a tussle with Armel Bella-Kotchap without Simon Hooper awarding a penalty. Alisson saved from Elyounoussi and then more spectacularly turned aside an Adams header from point-blank range. Jones, hired last week from Luton, made a triple change and Southampton’s players never stopped fighting. The full-back’s low centre fizzed across the six-yard box where Nunez was perfectly placed to convert his 10th of the season and his seventh in the last 10 matches. Mo Salah’s first run saw him checked illegally by Duje Caleta-Car which earned the Saints defender a booking and allowed Liverpool to score from the resulting free-kick.ĭaylight finally arrived with the third Liverpool goal shortly before the interval following a fine team move in which Thiago and Firmino combined to release Robertson down the left. The positive thing was our response after half-time.’Īll four goals were registered before the interval with the two opening salvos fired unexpectedly inside the first 10 minutes.Īdams had already missed a golden opportunity with his head when Liverpool struck first after six minutes. We allowed world-class players too much space and conceded a really poor goal from a set play. We just waited for the inevitable to happen,’ he complained. ‘I thought we were really passive in the first half. Jones didn’t let his beaten players escape criticism despite a plucky second half showing. I am really proud to be around for his milestone.’ He knows everything about the game and can set the tone.

‘There was no chance James Milner wouldn’t come on for his 600th game. The second half was the Alisson half because of the saves he had to make. ‘I saw what we did well and not so well and still couldn’t change it. Nevertheless, three points has lifted Liverpool into the European places and for all their early-season problems, they are only 10 points behind champions Manchester City.ĭiscussing his enforced stint in the stands, Klopp admitted: ‘It’s not my favourite position to watch from even though you probably get a better perspective. Alisson was kept busier than his manager wanted and the way Virgil van Dijk was left by Che Adams for the visitor’s goal brought a look of shock to Klopp’s face.

Rise of the reds