Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is substituted after suffering an injury during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, first leg match at Anfield, Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure in his post-match press conference just moments after his Liverpool side defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The Reds flew out of the blocks in the first-half and Mohamed Salah scored from close-range to break the deadlock in the 12th minute, his 38th goal of the season in all competitions.
Liverpool had the momentum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the home team a two-goal advantage with a thunderous strike in the 20th minute at Anfield. Sadio Mane piled yet more misery on Pep Guardiola’s men with a header in the 31st minute and the scoreline remained the same heading into the second leg at the Etihad.
Klopp was delighted with the performance of his players but admitted he was ‘angry’ that they only have two days break before Saturday lunchtime’s Merseyside derby. ‘If we want to see games like this them the Premier League have to think about the fixtures,’ the German told BT Sport.
‘It should be something good (the game against Everton) and not cause problems. We have to find players now for what a lot of people say is the biggest game of the season. ‘I do not feel good about this right now. If I don’t play my best XI against Everton then we know what happens.
‘Being in an international competition should not cause you problems so that you have to somehow find players. ‘I am really angry with those who have made the decision for the early kick-off.’
The Liverpool boss believes his side could have extended their lead in the second-half. He said: ‘First-half was brilliant. It was how football should look. We knew about the quality of City but also about our quality as well. ‘If we could control the game better against a team like Man City and not give the ball away we would be closer to them in the league.
‘We defended the passes really good. But I wanted us to play more football. But I am not angry it is all good. “We lose one player to injury (Mo Salah) and another – the captain (Jordan Henderson) – to a yellow card so it does not feel good. ‘Mo said he feels good but we will have to see about that.’
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