EPL

'Wow' – Klopp floored as Reds draw rare blank after Pickford heroics

By Sports Desk September 03, 2022

Jurgen Klopp declared Liverpool did all they could to win Saturday's Merseyside derby, with only the brilliance of Jordan Pickford denying them victory at Goodison Park.

The Reds manager witnessed a gripping 0-0 draw in which England goalkeeper Pickford's eight saves meant Liverpool had to accept a point for their efforts.

They almost matched the drama of Wednesday, when a stoppage-time winner from Fabio Carvalho secured victory over Newcastle United. This time, well past the regulation 90 minutes, Pickford touched Mohamed Salah's shot against the base of the right post.

Klopp said: "It was a real derby, super intense and with a lot of really spectacular moments."

Everton thought they had snatched a second-half lead when Liverpool academy graduate Conor Coady tapped in from close range, but he was just offside.

"I didn't see it back but I think if they watch it long enough it probably was offside," Klopp said.

He saluted a "sensational save" from Alisson, who denied Neal Maupay in the second half, but Pickford was the obvious star of the show.

"We hit the post three times, and a few unbelievable saves by Pickford. Wow. What can you do," Klopp said on BT Sport.

"You have to dig in really deep, that's what we did. In the end it's nil-nil, which sounds strange, but that's it."

Liverpool had 23 shots to Everton's 14, as the Reds failed to score in a Premier League game for the first time in 2022. This was their 25th game in the competition since the turn of the year, and the Reds had last drawn a blank when losing 1-0 at Leicester in December.

"It's been a super intense week for us," Klopp said. "On Wednesday night we had a really tough game and had to go to the wire, and a few days later you play here.

"I don't know how many derbies I've played now, quite a few, but it's always difficult and it was difficuilt today."

Carvalho came off at half-time with a muscle injury above the knee, described by Klopp as "one of the most painful things you can get".

That was a downside, as was the result from Liverpool's perspective, considering they hit the woodwork three times, through Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

Liverpool have failed to win any of their first three away league games in a single campaign for the first time since 2010-11, when they drew four in a row under Roy Hodgson's leadership, but Klopp recognised the derby had been quite some match.

"This game was not bad, at all, it was just a tough one," he said. "I don't forget that they had a big chance. The goal was offside so I don't count that, but it was close, but when Ali made a save [from Maupay] that was proper. Apart from that we had bigger chances but it's okay now."

Related items

  • Al Ahli 1-2 Al Hilal: Malcom saves league leaders' winning streak Al Ahli 1-2 Al Hilal: Malcom saves league leaders' winning streak

    Malcom’s stunning solo goal finished Al Hilal’s second-half comeback to earn a 2-1 win over Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League on Monday.

    The forward started his run from inside his own half before slotting in the winner, after teeing up Aleksandr Mitrovic for the equaliser just after the interval.

    Feras Al Brikan had given Al Ahli the lead in the 30th minute, but the hosts could not hold onto it against the league leaders.

    Al Hilal continue their unbeaten league campaign to a 30th match, moving 12 points clear at the top of the table, while Al Ahli remain in third, now 22 points off the AFC Champions League spot.

    Data Debrief

    Malcom was one of Al Hilal's most influential players; as well as playing a hand in both goals, he had the joint-most shots (five), and the joint-most shots on target (two), and created two chances for his team.

    Al Ahli also struggled to cope with Mitrovic's threat, as the Serbian created an xG of 0.61 from his five shots, having 11 touches in the opposition box.

  • Van Dijk insists he will be part of Liverpool's transition from Klopp Van Dijk insists he will be part of Liverpool's transition from Klopp

    Virgil van Dijk says he will be "part of" the big transition following Jurgen Klopp’s departure at the end of the season.

    The German will leave Liverpool after nine years in charge, with a deal agreed for Feyenoord manager, Arne Slot, to replace him.

    Van Dijk, who signed for Liverpool in January 2018, is going into the final year of his contract, and admitted he has not heard anything about an extension.

    "There is nothing for me to discuss because there is no news," Van Dijk said.

    "I think the club is very much busy with who is going to be the new manager and that is the main focus.

    "I am very happy here. I love the club, and you can see that as well. It’s a big part of my life already. The focus is now on the last two games and then the club will focus on who the new manager is and there will be a big transition, and I am part of that.

    "When the season is over and there is news, we will focus on what is coming next, but it is a fact that there will be a lot of changes happening, and it will be interesting. I am here to be a part of that and looking forward to it.

    "I am the captain, so I want to help, I will help, and I should help. If he [Slot] is the one who comes, then let’s see.

    "There will be a lot of changes happening. I wouldn’t say scary is the right word, but it is quite interesting and exciting what will happen now."

    Liverpool beat Tottenham 4-2 on Sunday, putting recent setbacks behind them to return to winning ways at Anfield.

    The Reds won the EFL Cup in February, and though a Premier League title now looks unlikely, Van Dijk is hopeful that they can finish Klopp’s reign strongly.

    "Listen, if you said at the start of the season that this is how it would have gone, then I think we would have taken that," he added.

    "We are winners, and we were close. We weren’t good enough in the decisive moments, but that is life. We have to stick together, and we will.

    "A few of us have been in title races and on the losing sides at times and it hurts. But we have to take this experience with us, and you only improve if you learn and that is the aim, and we can take that into next season. We want to give the manager a good farewell and do it for ourselves as well."

  • Postecoglou: Spurs have a confidence problem to overcome Postecoglou: Spurs have a confidence problem to overcome

    Ange Postecoglou says that Tottenham need to "overcome" their low confidence after suffering a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

    Spurs slipped to their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat, being left to bemoan their slow start as they found themselves 4-0 down by the hour mark thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott.

    Richarlison came off the bench to salvage some pride for Spurs, scoring one before setting up Son Heung-min for a goal on his 300th Premier League appearance.

    Spurs had the opportunity to cut the gap to the top four after Aston Villa’s defeat to Brighton, but they remain seven points off a Champions League spot.

    Postecoglou’s side still have a game in hand over the Villans, though he was sure that Spurs would be able to put their recent poor run behind them.

    Asked if Spurs had a confidence problem, Postecoglou told Sky Sports: "Maybe in the front third there is.

    "It probably is a bit of a lack of confidence, but again, that's something the guys have to work through.

    "You have to find a way to overcome that because, ultimately, if you don't put pressure on the opposition in the front third after you've worked your way up there, they're going to get comfortable with their position."

    Spurs have won just one of their last nine Premier League away games, failing to win any of the last five.

    Despite that run extending at Anfield, Postecoglou highlighted what he thought was an improvement on their recent performances.

    He continued: "Obviously a hugely disappointing outcome for us but at least we were more like ourselves today in terms of our football.

    "Our last two away games at Newcastle and Chelsea, apart from the results which weren't great either, we just didn't try and play our football.

    "I thought today, even in the first half, some of our football, our pressing was back to where it should be."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.