‘It was a great game’ – Klopp reacts as impressive Liverpool beat West Ham 3-1 | OneFootball

Jurgen Klopp was delighted as his impressive Liverpool made it back-to-back Premier League wins after their victory over an in-form West Ham United.

The Reds went into the game off the back of an improved display against Tottenham in midweek, while the Hammers were hoping to move into the top four at Liverpool’s expense with a win.

In truth, the opening period was without much goalmouth action, as the visitors – who were without Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in attack – struggled to create anything of real note, while David Moyes’ side found it difficult to exploit their opponents makeshift defence.

After a tactical and tight first half, the game sprung into life on 57 minutes, substitute Curtis Jones teeing up Mo Salah just seconds after entering the fray, with the Egyptian duly curling home after being afforded far too much time and space to cut in onto his favoured left-foot.

The Premier League’s top scorer than added a second to just over ten minutes later, the forward rounding off a scintillating counter-attack with a sensational touch and finish. The game was then  well and truly put to bed with five minutes to go, as Gini Wijnaldum slotted home after some good interplay between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and fellow substitute Firmino inside the box.

While a late Craig Dawson effort prevented a deserved clean sheet for the away side, it did little to alter the end result, with the champions now up to third and just four points behind leaders Manchester City.

After securing successive league wins off the back of a five game winless run, manager Klopp was unsurprisingly pleased, the former Borussia Dortmund boss praising his side’s ‘controlled’ display.

“It was a great game, a very professional game, very controlled against usually a flying side,” Klopp told Sky Sports.

“We didn’t create enough in the first half. We made little adjustments at half-time and it paid off. We scored three unbelievable goals.

“In the first half we had three midfielders on the other side of the ball so Xherdan Shaqiri had to pass backwards. We wanted Divock Origi more in the centre. We played a double 10 then with Thiago and Shaqiri. James Milner is fine but showed signs of hamstring so we chose the right moment to bring him off.

“Shaq I thought he passed the ball too early. What Mo [Salah] made of it was incredible. The first touch was unbelievable.

“These boys are a really good group. They’re not happy at not being successful, not winning, but they always have the right attitude.”

Liverpool are back in action against Brighton on Wednesday night, before they face a crucial clash with City on Sunday.

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