‘Doesn’t look great’ – Klopp claimed Liverpool ace needed someone to drive him home after last night’s game
Jurgen Klopp has heaped huge praise on one of his young players after last night’s defeat of Fulham at Anfield but has admitted that the 20-year-old didn’t ‘look great’ following the full-time whistle.
Conor Bradley threw in an exceptional performance as he deputised for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back and was deservedly named man of the match.
The 2-1 defeat of Marco Silva’s side was the Northern Irishman’s fifth appearance of the season (across all competitions) and our German tactician joked after the game that someone would need to drive the full-back home due to the effort he’d put in on the pitch.
“I told him before the game already I was waiting for that moment that we can give him the opportunity,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com. “I was really waiting for it because when he got injured in pre-season, my opinion about him was already here [high] and then he was out for a pretty long time. A top boy. Today was pretty intense for him. Somebody has to drive him home hopefully because he really is sitting in the dressing room and doesn’t look great!
“He gave his absolute everything and it’s just so nice to see, it’s really so nice to see. And the next is sitting outside on the bench already. That’s really cool that he could show how good he already is and, of course, so much more to come. In the first goal, things like this happen, but if you are a defender there will always be an involvement in a goal somehow. But it’s all about how quick can you get into the game again and I didn’t see any kind of reaction – I liked that a lot.”
READ MORE: (Video) Conor Bradley says Liverpool teammate is ‘probably the best player in the world at the moment’
It’s always great to see an Academy graduate when called upon by the first team.
The Castlederg-born talent enjoyed a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers last term and despite his young age you do get the feeling that he’s ready to feature regularly at Liverpool.
He of course has a huge challenge on his hands to become a regular starter, due to Alexander-Arnold being one of the best players in the world (according to our No. 84 himself), but if the England international does step into a midfield role in the future like many are expecting him to then there’s no reason why Bradley can’t make the right back spot his own.
The youngster will be looking forward to more o
Liverpool fight back to take League Cup semi-final lead over Fulham
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool produced another comeback after conceding first to take a 2-1 lead over Fulham into the second leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
Willian fired the visitors in front in their first ever League Cup semi-final at Anfield. But two goals in three second-half minutes from Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo gave the Reds a slender advantage ahead of the second leg at Craven Cottage on January 24.
Jurgen Klopp´s men have now fallen behind in 14 games this season, but have won seven of those matches and lost just three. “It´s the mentality in the group, in the club, in the city. Everybody is like this,” said Gakpo.
“Just keep going no matter what happens. We showed it again today. If you´ve got that mentality, a lot of beautiful things can happen.” Liverpool were without Mohamed Salah due to his participation at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Trent Alexander-Arnold was among a number of injury absentees and it showed in a sluggish first half.
Fulham could not have wished for a better start when Willian opened the scoring on 19 minutes. Virgil van Dijk was twice at fault as his weak header was pounced on by Andreas Pereira. Willian then got the break of the ball inside the penalty area before firing through Van Dijk´s legs beyond Caoimhin Kelleher.
Fulham were left to curse their fortune after the break, but the visitors were architects of their own downfall for not taking the chance to extend their lead. Klopp left his midfield wide open as he threw on Gakpo and Darwin Nunez to form a front four alongside Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.
But before the home side turned the game around, Fulham had multiple opportunities to pick them off on the counter-attack. Bobby De Cordova-Reid wasted the best of them when he forced Kelleher into a comfortable save with Pereira and Raul Jimenez begging for a cross. “Second half we had really good moments, we should have scored another goal at least,” said Fulham manager Marco Silva.
“Even so the game is at half-time. We are losing 2-1 but we will go for it for sure. “At home, with our fans behind us, it is going to be a great night for Fulham FC.” Liverpool were struggling to make their numbers in attacking areas count until Jones´ long-range effort deflected off the unfortunate Tosin Adarabioyo and beyond the helpless Bernd Leno.
Moments later the record nine-time League Cup winners led. The substitutes combined as Nunez´s low cross was turned home by Gakpo at the near post. But Leno then won his personal duel with Nunez three times in the final 20 minutes to keep Fulham in the tie.
The German goalkeeper was stretched by a towering header and blast from a tight angle by the Uruguayan. Leno´s best stop, though, came five minutes from time when the former Arsenal ´keeper spread himself to block from a narrow angle.
“It was not our best game we ever played but it is not about that at the moment,” said Klopp. “If we want to go to the final we need a really good game at Fulham and we need a result.” Liverpool remain the strong favourites to reach the Wembley final against either Middlesbrough or Chelsea next month. However, Fulham do have hope with home advantage to come in the second leg.
pportunities in the coming weeks while Trent recovers from his knee injury and we’re excited by the prospect of him developing further under the watchful eye of Klopp and Co.
Leave a Reply