‘We asked for it’: Jurgen Klopp heralds ‘sensational result’ from ‘average game’

Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool’s tight victory against Fulham, which moved them back to the top of the Premier League table, as an “average game” but a “sensational result”.

Liverpool relied upon a late penalty, scored by James Milner, to eke out a win against second-bottom Fulham to move ahead of Manchester City by two points, although Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand.

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Yet in the context of the past week, Klopp explained, travelling to Bayern Munich and winning in Germany to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League then travelling to Fulham, Liverpool’s manager considered it a significant three points gained.

Intense week

“We had a very intense week, going to Munich, coming back, travelling to London, not around the corner, so I’m completely fine,” Klopp said. “Average game, sensational result.”

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The goal Liverpool conceded, after Sadio Mane gave them a first-half lead, was poor. Milner shanked a clearance, sending the ball towards his own goal, and Virgil Van Dijk made a rare mistake with a header back to his goalkeeper, Alisson, allowing Ryan Babel, the former Liverpool player to nick it and tap in.

“We asked for it,” Klopp added. “Not a perfect football game but, in a difficult week for us, a sensational result.”