Jurgen Klopp has hailed Liverpool’s victory over Man City as the Reds’ best defensive performance of the season after Mohamed Salah’s goal earned them a 1-0 win.
With the injured Ibrahima Konate joining Joel Matip on the sidelines, and Trent Alexander-Arnold only fit enough for a place on the bench, the German acknowledged that he was well-aware of the reception his starting line-up would receive after starting James Milner at right-back, with Joe Gomez moving to centre-back.
As a result, he was delighted how the pair stepped up to help Liverpool keep only their third Premier League clean sheet of the season and become only the second side to stop the in-form Erling Haaland from scoring in the English top-flight.
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“It is just great for Joey that he can show what a player he is,” Klopp told reporters. “Outstanding, outstanding talent. Great player, can play different positions, and today he was sensational.
“Mature performance, together with Virgil and the two full-backs. I’d like to mention, it’s fine, Joey deserves all the praise, but I am pretty sure before the game a lot of people thought, ‘Oh, James Milner against Phil Foden’ but the game James Milner played was absolutely unbelievable.
“Joey as well, it means the right side did well. Robbo was there, top-class game. And Virgil as well. In the moments we needed Ali, he was there as well.
“Our defensive line was for sure the best game we played this season. It’s good, very good timing. It was nearly perfect doing it today. That’s the way we have to defend.”
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