Jurgen Klopp says the Liverpool players’ reaction to Roberto Firmino’s goal in the 3-0 win over Leicester showed just what it meant for the squad to see his efforts rewarded.
Firmino was impressive during the victory over Brendan Rodgers’s side as the Reds went level with Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table.
The Brazil international, however, looked like he would not see his display given the goal it deserved after a shot was cleared off the line in the second half after first hitting the post.
Replays showed the ball was virtually all the way over the line before Leicester’s defence managed to hook it away, but Firmino refused to let his drop and instead headed home shortly after to wrap it up late on.
Klopp says he is pleased for his centre-forward and believes the rest of the team were delighted for their colleague as the Reds put a lengthy injury list to one side to swat aside the Foxes.
“How happy am I for Bobby? Very!” said Klopp.
“I think you saw it earlier than me: the closest ‘not goal’ with goalline technology. We are very happy and relieved.
“He deserved it so much, played a super game, so important, and when he scored you could see all the players think ‘Yes, absolutely the right goalscorer’.”
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Klopp also reserved a word of praise for Diogo Jota who became the first Liverpool player to score in four successive home games in the league.
The former Wolves man is now up to eight goals for the campaign and Klopp says such performances just underline why the club paid £45million to prise him away from Molineux in September.
“He couldn’t have scored without an outstanding cross from Andy Robertson,” Klopp said.
“All these passes and then Joel Matip to Robbo, Marc Albrighton tries everything to win the battle and then a sensational cross from Robbo and super movement from Diogo.
“He is a good player, that is the reason why we signed him.”
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