MY ACCOUNT
Jurgen Klopp knows his team must continue winning to keep the Premier League title race alive after recording a 10th consecutive league victory against Watford.
The Reds briefly went top of the Premier League after the 2-0 victory at Anfield thanks to a first-half header from Diogo Jota and a late penalty from Fabinho.
Klopp acknowledged that any question about moving ahead of Manchester City by two points would be null and void after discovering Pep Guardiola’s men had already taken the lead at Burnley before he had even started his post-game media conference. The reigning champions, who host Liverpool nextwent on to win 2-0 at Turf Moor.
Klopp told reporters: “No, you can’t give an inch, but it’s nothing to do with being on top of the table, I didn’t think about that in the moment, I was just happy to win the game and having now 72 points.
“To keep it a title race we have to win our football games, otherwise it will be really tricky. And the next Premier League game obviously is a big one [against City], we do not hide from that. It’s all good. But now we have a Champions League game to play, which is as important, and three days’ time to prepare that. Then we go from there.”
Liverpool were not at their best against the Hornets but secured the three points and another clean sheet, meaning they have now kept five consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for a second time under Klopp, previously doing so in January 2020 (a run of seven).
Part of the backline today was Joe Gomez, making just his second league start of the season, and Klopp was pleased with the 24-year-old’s efforts filling in at right back.
“He did really well and he could have set up a second goal in the second half, the cross was an incredible one as well.
“Defensively we don’t have to talk, offensively some really good moments and some not-so-good moments because you see the positioning against a deep-sitting opponent, it is not so easy to find the right position in these moments and we are usually a bit more flexible, but it’s all fine.
“Joe is an outstanding football player and he will play a lot of games during his career, 100 per cent, he will play here a lot of games definitely. This season was tricky so far for him, but who knows how these things can change. He is obviously ready to use the opportunity when he gets it.”
Gomez’s accurate ball in the 22nd minute found the head of Jota, who grabbed his 20th goal of the campaign.
The Portugal international also had words of praise for Gomez, telling Liverpool’s official website: “I spoke with Joey before the game, I said: ‘You are going to get an assist today!’ I remember against Nottingham [Forest] he had a few crosses that I couldn’t get on the end of, but I was confident for today and fortunately for us it happened.
“It’s the first time in my career that I reach 20 [goals], so just keep on going because we still have plenty to play for.”
No player has scored the opening goal in more Premier League games this season than Jota, with Liverpool going on to win all six games in which he has opened the scoring for them.
