Anthony Nlebem
Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp has praised his workforce’s preventing spirit after defeating Arsenal 2-0 at Emirates Stadium to achieve the fourth spherical of the FA Cup.
Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold”s free-kick within the eightieth minute and Luis Diaz sealed the victory for Liverpool deep into stoppage time.
Arsenal dominated the primary half however have been very wasteful with Martin Odegaard hitting the bar, Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz additionally missed clear possibilities.
The defeat means Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal aspect are out of the FA Cup and League Cup and are now not in pole place within the Premier League.
“Ultimately, we got here by. I’m actually comfortable we may win this recreation. Arsenal may have received it definitely. We completed it off and it spoke for the character of the boys,” Klopp mentioned in his post-match convention.
“I’m tremendous proud. It was a brilliant troublesome draw. Possibly probably the most troublesome we may have gotten.
“It wasn’t a straightforward recreation to get pleasure from within the first half. We modified a bit at half-time.
“We have been actually within the recreation within the second half. We scored the objectives and fought for 95 minutes.”
Liverpool are two factors forward of second-placed Aston Villa and 5 above fourth-placed Arsenal within the Premier League desk because the Reds chase a primary title since 2020.
Klopp was relieved to keep away from a draining FA Cup replay.
“We desperately needed to keep away from a draw. Now I don’t must make any choice which is nice,” Klopp mentioned.
“Wednesday is the subsequent recreation after which a number of days off. We’ve to take steps if we wish to be the place we’re. We can have a winter break now.”
Klopp additionally praised Alexander-Arnold, who stored driving Liverpool ahead within the second half.
“What a recreation he performed by the best way in all of the positions he performed. You see his class on the ball,” the German mentioned.
Liverpool, regardless of lacking captain Virgil van Dijk by sickness and with Mohamed Salah on the Africa Cup of Nations, held agency
Regardless of lacking Virgil van Dijk by sickness and Mohamed Salah for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Liverpool held agency and survive Arsenal assault on the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have now received certainly one of their final six video games in all competitions, dropping three in a row to dent their Premier League title chase.
That is additionally Arsenal’s third successive defeat since their 1-1 draw at Anfield on December 23, 2023.
