Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was delighted with the contribution of Darwin Nunez and others.
Jurgen Klopp said he “couldn’t have imagined a better Sunday” after his Liverpool side beat Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield.
And the Reds boss expressed his admiration for Darwin Nunez’s performance. In the first start of the season, two out of three goals were scored.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s beautifully struck effort gave the Reds an early lead before Matty Cash poked the ball into his own net as Nunez hit the post in the 22nd minute.
The Uruguayan striker then set up Mohamed Salah to pounce from Andy Robertson’s corner and Klopp was pleased with the way his two forwards matched Unai Emery’s men.
Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a hamstring injury in the second half, but potential setbacks aside, Klopp was delighted with the day’s performance as his side finished third in the Premier League with 10 points from 12. Blood red: Jurgen Klopp on possible further transfer activity this summer
“It was like the two sprinters in the team wanting to know where the other was,” Klopp said. “I’m pretty sure Mo said to Darwin before the game, if the ball is high, screw it because I’m on the bike.
“The partnership is very good. I liked today’s line-up, there is a bit of a problem with work that we have to do lines before we know what will work, but today went quite well. And I am also very happy with that. Darwin.
“Maybe we shouldn’t forget now because [the second one] was an own goal or whatever, but the whole [chance] was like, ‘Oh my God!’ There’s still a chance to get the ball!”
I think 65 minutes or whatever it was okay for the three guys, Curtis came back from injury and the guys gave it their all. “Options on the bench as well,
Harvey Elliott is so close [to starting], Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo were there and I thought it was quite nice to get Wataru Endo in as well.
We could see if he was there. In the better moments he was aggressive, he got past the ball and Trent’s Hamstring, it was a perfect afternoon, the weather, my God! It’s still early, 4.45pm or whatever, so I couldn’t think of a better Sunday.”
Klopp added: “It was a top game, the best in a long time,
I don’t know when the last line (defence) has been so convincing. Of course we had some good games, especially towards the end of last season, but it was really good
“In both departments, attacking and defending, you can’t take a step less against this Aston Villa team because then you’re going to struggle. But an early goal could have helped.
“I’m not sure how it would have looked without it, but we looked good.
The mix of leadership and direction was almost perfect, it felt like that. We were able to use the formation right today. Everyone wanted the ball and defended. it or offered it, so it was best game, can’t say otherwise.
“It was as good as it gets because the opposition is very strong but we didn’t let that happen today and that’s a big compliment to my boys.”
