LONDON • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed the performance of Jordan Henderson in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Porto, with the midfielder delivering another impressive display in a more advanced role.
The Reds captain recently said he had been badgering Klopp to allow him more freedom to break into the final third and, after scoring as a second-half substitute at Southampton last Friday, he started and delivered a killer pass that led to Roberto Firmino's second goal.
"Hendo is a brilliant player. He obviously likes the position. We've not used him there for 3.5 years - sorry about that!" grinned Klopp. "I'm glad he can show it."
Henderson has often played in a defensive midfield role for Klopp but, with Brazilian Fabinho taking up that responsibility, he is now able to push into advanced areas.
The Englishman supported the front trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Firmino with his harrying and pressing to maintain pressure on the Porto defence. Yet his defence-splitting pass to the overlapping Trent Alexander-Arnold showed that he is more than a workhorse.
Klopp was also pleased with the "really, really good" Naby Keita, who opened the scoring after just five minutes, saying the midfielder delivered his most complete display since his close-season move from RB Leipzig.
The Guinean excelled in the first half, during which Porto opened themselves up to be attacked despite setting up in an unorthodox 5-2-3 designed to deny the hosts space.
But Liverpool were also leaving gaps to exploit at the other end, with little evidence of the defensive solidity they have shown this season.
With the away-goals rule, by which the Portuguese side beat Roma in the previous round, the Reds will be grateful they are 2-0 up rather than 3-1 or 4-2 ahead, which might have reflected a slightly chaotic match more accurately.
And they had a VAR scare, when the ball struck Alexander-Arnold's arm, and could have easily lost top scorer Salah in the closing stages for a dangerous lunge on Danilo Pereira - all of which led Klopp to warn his side of an "intense" return leg.
He said: "We scored two goals and controlled the ball most of the time. We lost a little bit of direction in the second half, but there's nothing to criticise. 2-0 is a very, very good result.
"We cannot decide the tie tonight, so now we have to go there and fight again."
REUTERS, THE TIMES, LONDON
The Internet Pages business news from June 2017
Crystal Palace piled further pressure on Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-1 Premier League win over his team, who have now gone seven games without a victory
Sport: Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel
Mohamed Salah completed a memorable day for Egyptian football by retaining his African Player of the Year award in Senegal Tuesday. The 26-year-old Liverpool star finished first with club-mate
Football: Mohamed Salah retains African award to seal great
"Get all latest content delivered straight to your inbox." Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:
World Cup » News » Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes
A fourth straight league loss for Huddersfield's new manager Jan Siewert left the Terriers stranded six points behind Fulham and 14 adrift of 17th-placed Cardiff City as Newcastle, with a third straight home win under Rafa Benitez, moved up to 14th. Almiron, making his first start for Newcastle after his club record 20 million-pound ($26.1
VIDEO Newcastle United 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Premier League
Brian Jensen knows all about a battle to be Burnley's number one. The great Dane always had to fight for the gloves during his 10 years at Turf Moor, more often than not coming out on top. Danny
Goalkeepers
Chelsea are through to the semi-finals of the Europa League after defeating Slavia Prague 4-3 at Stamford Bridge last night (Thursday). The Blues won 5-3 on aggregate in the quarter-final tie, having won 1-0 in the Czech Republic last week, with four goals in the first 27 minutes of the second leg helping Maurizio Sarri's side to victory.
Chelsea beat Slavia Prague to reach Europa League semi-finals
Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment | Football News
Portland blaze Denver to make bow in series DENVER • Portland coach Terry Stotts paid tribute to the team's video coordinator, Jonathan Yim, who was seriously injured in a car crash with his family last week, after the Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets 97-90 to tie their Western Conference semi-finals at one game apiece.
Portland blaze Denver to make bow in series - stillmannews.com
stillmannews.com/2019/05/04/portland-blaze-denver-to-make-bow-in-series/
DENVER-After giving up 39 points to Damian Lillard in the opener, the Denver Nuggets were determined to make sure Portland's role players would have to bear the burden of evening up the series. Ruby Walsh on quitting: "I didn't want the long farewell" Walsh burst on to the scene when winning the 2000 Grand National on Papillon, trained by his
NBA Playoffs 2019: Portland Trail Blazers hold off Denver
Messi notches 50th career hat-trick as La Liga leaders Barcelona twice come from behind to beat Sevilla The Argentine loves to score against Sevilla as he has already netted 36 goals in 35 games
Lionel Messi All 253 Goals in La Liga New Record HD - YouTube
We have been experiencing some problems with subscriber log-ins and apologise for the inconvenience caused. Until we resolve the issues, subscribers need not log in to access ST Digital articles.
Hot Sportsnews, Transfers and Accurate Predictions - Log On
India vs Australia: Tim Paine's 'new Aussie team' proves capability to produce results after victory in second Test Australia's 146-run victory was the first since the ball-tampering saga that rocked the nation.
Australia sense victory in second Test after brutal day in
Legit.ng News ★ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says playing in the Europa League next season is good for Manchester United. The Red Devils were condemned to competing in the UEFA second tier championship after being held to a 1-1 draw by Huddersfield
"The Europa League is the right place for Manchester United
Jan 22, 2019 · Jan. 22 (UPI) --Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo pleaded guilty to tax fraud in a Madrid Court Tuesday and agreed to pay $21.6 million in fines. Ronaldo also received a two-year suspended prison
Ronaldo fined €19m for tax fraud, avoids jail
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen