Jurgen Klopp saluted a “perfect night” as Liverpool stormed back to the top of the Premier League on a memorable Anfield evening.
But the Reds boss admits there was no intention to “humiliate” Manchester United after a record-breaking triumph against their bitter North West rivals.
Mohamed Salah scored twice and Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane also netted as the Reds romped to a 4-0 triumph on Tuesday night to move two points clear of Manchester City, who entertain Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday.
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And Klopp was delighted with the display of his team in which midfielder Thiago Alcantara excelled.
“Mo scored two, set up the first. Luis set up Sadio and got the goal from Mo,” said the Reds boss. “Diogo (Jota) came on and set up Mo’s second. It couldn’t have been better, to be honest.
“Thiago played a good game. With his quality, obviously comes responsibility. If you are good, you should play good as well and that’s what he did tonight. Again.
“For a football manager, nothing really to moan about. It was the perfect night for us, we don’t take these kinds of things for granted. If our counter-pressing was not as sensational as it was tonight, I really think United could have had a much better game. But because we were extremely good, it didn’t happen for them.”
Thiago was replaced with 10 minutes remaining, the reason for which Klopp explained: “He ripped his shorts. Afterwards he told me. I thought it was something else but obviously he was fine.”
Having won 5-0 at Old Trafford in October, Liverpool became the first team ever to score nine league goals against United in the same season. Klopp, though, has played down the achievement and expressed sympathy with the plight of Ralf Rangnick’s side.
“I am not here to humiliate opponents,” he said. “We did what we had to do and we won the game. United is obviously in a difficult situation. Look at the line-up tonight. They played without their central midfielders and when you are in a difficult situation, very often in life you get another knock. And that’s what United got before the game.
“In the game, Paul (Pogba) has to go off and, whether it’s a derby or not, it is not easy to play against us. 9-0 I am not interested in. That is something for the supporters, if they want to celebrate 9-0 they can do that but it’s not for me.
“If we’d twice won 1-0, I would feel exactly the same. I know it will not last forever, they will strike back. They will be there again, this club is too powerful but tonight we were too good.”
