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Attendance: 24,121
Huddersfield logo
Premier League
Jan 30, 2018 at 8pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-2)
Can (26'), Firmino (45'), Salah (78' pen.)

Live Commentary: Huddersfield Town 0-3 Liverpool - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Liverpool's 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town in Tuesday's Premier League clash at the John Smith's Stadium.
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Liverpool have moved level on points with third-place Chelsea with a comfortable 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town in Tuesday night's Premier League game at the John Smith's Stadium.

Emre Can and Roberto Firmino both scored during the first half, before Mohamed Salah added a third from the penalty spot after the break.

Huddersfield barely threatened throughout the 90 minutes, and David Wagner's side have now failed to win in seven matches in the top flight.

Find out how all of the action unfolded in Yorkshire courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Huddersfield Town and Liverpool. David Wagner and Jurgen Klopp may be friends off the pitch, but the German duo are enemies this evening as they look to get back to winning ways in the top flight. Let's see who features in their respective starting lineups...

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN XI: Lossl; Hadergjonaj, Jorgensen, Schindler, Kongolo; Lowe, Hogg, Mooy, Billing; Depoitre, Mounie

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SUBSTITUTES: Coleman, Smith, Van La Parra, Pritchard, Ince, Quaner, Hefele


LIVERPOOL XI Karius; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Robertson; Can, Henderson, Milner; Salah, Mane, Firmino

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Mignolet, Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Ings, Alexander-Arnold


Let's start by taking a look at Huddersfield, with Wagner opting to give a first Premier League start to Terence Kongolo. The AS Monaco loanee has featured in two starting lineups in the FA Cup, but this is the first time that the Dutchman is named in a top-flight XI after making a substitute outing against West Ham United.

While Kongolo keeps his place from the weekend, there are a total of four alterations, while Tom Ince has to make do with a place on the bench against his former club. It's the winger's birthday, too.

Christopher Schindler, Laurent Depoitre, Philip Billing and Jonas Lossl have all been brought back into the team, with the likes of Michael Hefele and Colin Quaner returning to the bench.

Alex Pritchard is also back among the replacements. The January signing was hauled off after 60 minutes against Stoke City and has to make do with potentially making an impact from the bench during the second half.

As for Liverpool, Klopp has made a major call by dropping Virgil van Dijk down to the substitutes' bench. Of course, it could be part of the German's rotation policy but I'm sure that the £75m signing did not expect to feature among the replacements after just three starts. Dejan Lovren replaces the Netherlands international.

On a more positive note, Jordan Henderson makes his first start in a Liverpool shirt since before Christmas. The England international has been dealing with a hamstring problem. There is also a rare start for James Milner, who comes in for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Klopp has also changed both of his full-backs, with Joe Gomez replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right flank and Andrew Robertson coming in for Alberto Moreno on the left-hand side. The star trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino all feature in attack.

The bench effectively picks itself with Ragnar Klavan left out and Adam Lallana ruled out through injury. Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings are both still looking for their first goal of the season and will hope to be used later in the match.

Liverpool have lost their last two games in all competitions and although Wagner has acknowledged that he expects a response from their more illustrious opponents, the Terriers boss has described Liverpool as "vulnerable". Click here to read some more comments from the German ahead of this match.

The same could be said of Huddersfield. The Yorkshire club have received plenty of praise this season but they have lost their opening three league fixtures of 2018. Another defeat tonight would represent their worst start to a calendar year since 1988.

Huddersfield have already equalled their longest winless streak in the Premier League. Three draws were picked up during the Christmas period, but setbacks against Leicester City, West Ham United and Stoke City have followed.

It's worth keeping a note of Huddersfield's record in the second half of league matches this season. They have already conceded 30 goals after the break, which is the most in the top flight.

However, on a more positive note, Huddersfield can become the first newly-promoted side to record home wins over both Manchester United and Liverpool since 2004, when Portsmouth secured that double.

There has been an increasing vulnerability about Huddersfield in defence, but they have also had issues in attack throughout the season. Only Brighton & Hove Albion and Swansea City have netted fewer goals than Huddersfield's 19, which equals the efforts of Burnley and West Bromwich Albion.

Huddersfield have also had just seven different goalscorers in the Premier League, with only Depoitre, Mounie and Mooy netting more than once. If Wagner is sticking with his current squad for the rest of the campaign - which is says he is -that is something which needs to change.

Let's turn our attentions to Liverpool and while Huddersfield are looking to avoid setting new records, so is Klopp. Since his arrival in October 2015, the 50-year-old has never lost back-to-back games in the Premier League. As a result of the defeat at Swansea City, that streak is under threat tonight.

However, it would be unfair to be too negative about Liverpool in this buildup. Before their last two games, they had lost just once in 24 matches - a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.

That was also their only away defeat in 11 matches. Liverpool have been beaten at Manchester City, Leicester City and Swansea City on the road this season without troubling the scorers but all things considered, Klopp's side have performed relatively well on the travels.

While Liverpool fans have mixed opinions on a failure to replace Philippe Coutinho, the more pressing concern is in defence, with the only clean sheet being kept in eight games coming against Swansea. It's time for Virgil van Dijk to start justifying his price-tag, although he does not get that chance this evening...

That said, Van Dijk and clean sheets are not something which necessarily goes hand in hand. The centre-back has only kept one shutout in a dozen league starts for Southampton and Liverpool this season - against then goal-shy West Bromwich Albion back in October.

PREDICTION! Huddersfield are capable of beating any team in front of their own supporters and Liverpool have shown in the past that they are capable of losing to any team. However, we have to back Klopp's side to get back to winning ways tonight and in some style. The visitors to prevail by a 4-1 scoreline.

HEAD TO HEAD! This evening's match represents the 77th time in which these two clubs have met in a competitive match and rather surprisingly, Huddersfield have 31 victories to their name in comparison to 28 for Liverpool.

However, all of those victories came before the 1960s while before the match at Anfield earlier this season, there had been just one encounter since 1972. Liverpool are unbeaten in the last 11 games, with Huddersfield's last win coming in 1959.

Back in October, it was Liverpool who ran out 3-0 winners at Anfield, although it took a while for the Reds to find a breakthrough. Click here to read back on that game.

This isn't the only Premier League fixture taking place this evening. Arsenal are playing Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium - a game you can follow by clicking here - while West Ham United host Crystal Palace. Both matches kicked off at 7.45pm, GMT.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out at the John Smith's Stadium. This is one of the fixtures which the Huddersfield fans would have looked forward to after promotion to the Premier League and the stands are rocking as the players leave the tunnel.

A reminder of the two starting lineups...

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN XI: Lossl; Hadergjonaj, Jorgensen, Schindler, Kongolo, Lowe; Hogg, Mooy, Billing; Depoitre, Mounie

LIVERPOOL XI Karius; Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Robertson; Can, Henderson, Milner; Salah, Mane, Firmino


KICKOFF! Liverpool get us underway.

It's been a fast start from Liverpool, who quickly get the ball inside the Huddersfield penalty area with the home side's only touch being a partial block. However, Huddersfield are eventually able to clear the danger.

SHOT! Wagner will not be happy with his team. They look off the pace. Mane gets in behind the defence far too easily and the ball eventually falls invitingly for Liverpool teammate Firmino, who sends a low shot from 20 yards into the hands of Lossl.

Huddersfield's slow start has done nothing to dampen the atmosphere at the John Smith's Stadium. The home fans are in full voice, but their side are yet to enter the final third.

The Terriers don't look like reaching the final third either. They are very much sat in their own defensive third, looking to stifle any threat offered by Liverpool.

Much better from Huddersfield, who make a couple of flurries forward before retreating and retaining possession. They need to keep that up, and play with a faster tempo.

LATEST! There's been a goal at the London Stadium, with Crystal Palace taking the lead against West Ham United thanks to a goal from Christian Benteke. I assume that Huddersfield will be looking for that match to end in a draw.

Back to this game and it is more of a contest than it was in the opening stages. That said, Liverpool are struggling to find a way through against this packed Huddersfield defence. Wagner has gone with three at the back tonight.

We've not seen much attacking play from the Huddersfield wing-backs but both Hadergjonaj and Lowe get crosses into the box in the space of a few seconds, with Liverpool clearing both deliveries.

CHANCE! Huddersfield should be ahead. Lowe does brilliantly down the left and finds Depoitre inside the penalty area, but the Belgian's first-time effort from 14 yards is well saved by Karius.

LATEST! Arsenal have taken the lead against Swansea City through Nacho Monreal. The Spanish defender has been outstanding in recent weeks.

Liverpool have improved in the past couple of minutes but the visitors look short on the creative side of things. Another goal at the Liberty, with Swansea netting an immediate equaliser through Sam Clucas.

The visitors have had two corners in the space of 60 seconds but on both occasions, Huddersfield got the ball clear. Liverpool are dominating possession but they are not doing much with the ball.

SHOT! Such is Liverpool's apparent frustration that Can is attempting 25-yarders with his left foot. It's a decent effort but Lossl is able to comfortably get down to his right to push the ball away.

GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-1 Liverpool (Emre Can)

Maybe he was just getting warmed up? Robertson's cross is only cleared into the path of Can, whose half-volley takes a small deflection off Billing and goes into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.

Emre Can celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Huddersfield Town and Liverpool on January 30, 2018© SilverHub


Liverpool are back into the rhythm of the opening few minutes of this game. Huddersfield need to be careful to not sit too deep. They don't want to concede a second but packing everyone in their own half might not help that much.

LATEST! West Ham are level at the London Stadium with Mark Noble netting from the penalty spot.

While Huddersfield are sitting deep, Liverpool are pressing high. It's not ideal for the home side. If Liverpool net a second, you would fancy them to run away with this game.

Huddersfield are fortunate that Liverpool don't possess as much creativity as normal in the final third. If Coutinho or Lallana had been playing, the visitors would likely be further ahead. Mane is finding himself in central positions when he needs to be out wide.

It's effectively six on two when Huddersfield mount an attack. Depoitre and Mounie are attempting to link up but it's an impossible task without the help of their teammates.

The half-time whistle has gone in the other two games, with both scorelines sitting at 1-1. Both Huddersfield and Liverpool will want both matches to stay as they are.

SHOT! Huddersfield win a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, and Lowe and Mooy are soon standing over the ball. It's favours the left-footer so Lowe takes, but his shot goes wide of the far post.

With just three minutes to go before half time, Huddersfield are starting to make a go of this again. They still can't put together a sustained period of pressure, but it's better from the home team.

Liverpool are persisting with crosses into the middle but unless the ball gets cleared, there isn't really a threat due to the height of Huddersfield's defence.

GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-2 Liverpool (Roberto Firmino)

That's a hammer blow for Huddersfield. Mane releases Firmino down the left, and the Brazilian has time to drift inside and place the ball inside Lossl's near post. The goalkeeper could probably do better but he had to gamble to try to stop Firmino sending the ball across goal.

HALF TIME: Swansea City 0-2 Liverpool

The half-time whistle goes at the John Smith's Stadium and Liverpool take a clear led into the break. Goals from Can and Firmino have set them on their way and it looks like Klopp will maintain his record of never having suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.

Liverpool's first through Can was an excellent strike. The ball fell invitingly for the German and the midfielder's half-volley took a slight deflection, but it was a clean strike which left Lossl with no chance.

Huddersfield don't really deserve to be two goals down at the break but they paid the price for using what have been negative tactics. Once Firmino was in behind, he was either going to shoot or potentially set up a teammate for a tap-in and he chose the former, with Lossl gambling and thinking that the striker was going to pass.

The other two games remain at 1-1. As I mentioned before, they are results which would suit both Huddersfield and Liverpool but with roughly 35 minutes still remaining, I would expect more goals.

KICKOFF! Huddersfield get us back underway.

It doesn't look like Huddersfield have changed anything at the break. Liverpool are basically being allowed to do what they want with the ball.

LATEST! Swansea have taken the lead against Arsenal! Jordan Ayew has netted the goal - a potentially huge goal.

This has all the makings of a stroll in the park for Liverpool. They aren't even being forced to spray the ball about at any kind of pace. Wagner surely can't wait much longer before making a change.

More of the same...

It's like this match has five minutes to go and Huddersfield are trying to avoid a heavier defeat. Wagner is choosing not to chase this game. It's just plain weird.


CHANCE! This chance was inevitable and Liverpool should be three goals to the good. A cross from the right found Mane, but the winger's free header went too close to Lossl.

Huddersfield are at least trying to chase the ball down now but Liverpool have already established a rhythm. They are in total control of this football match.

SHOT! Milner is given the chance to get a shot away on the edge of the penalty area and his well-struck effort is tipped over the crossbar by Lossl. One-way traffic.

For the first time tonight, the Huddersfield fans are showing their frustration. Liverpool are all over the hosts every time they get the ball and all the Terriers can do is attempt to go long and give away possession.

Liverpool have had 80% of possession in this game. It's an incredible amount for a Premier League fixture. It's only going up with every passing minute.

SUBSTITUTION! Finally, a Huddersfield change. However, a striker is being replaced in Mounie. Quaner is the man introduced in his place.

You wouldn't know that Henderson has not started a game since before Christmas. The midfielder just made a dart down the right flank to deliver a cross. Still all Liverpool.

CHANCE! Another headed chance for Mane - that's twice in this second half. Can's pass is exquisite and his teammate has just the goalkeeper to beat, but he nods wide from 12 yards.

For the first time in this second half, Huddersfield get into a threatening position. A long throw is delivered by Billing but Karius comes to claim. What a waste.

Big penalty appeals from Huddersfield with Quaner going down under attention from Robertson, but the referee says so. There was slight contact, but it's not a penalty.

CHANCE! Salah should put this game to bed. The winger gets in behind the goalkeeper, but he attempts to slot into an empty net with the outside of his left foot and his effort goes into the side-netting.

LATEST! Swansea have all but sealed a win over Arsenal. Sam Clucas has his second of the match. What a result this is going to be for the Premier League's bottom side.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Can goes down under a challenge from Billing, and it's a penalty. Silly attempt at a tackle from the youngster and the referee had little choice.

GOAL! Huddersfield Town 0-3 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah)

It's definitely game over now. Salah takes responsibility over Milner and sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Wagner has introduced both Tom Ince and Rajiv van La Parra but it's a little too late. Some Liverpool changes on the way, too.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at the Liberty Stadium and Swansea have registered a 3-1 win over Arsenal. The game between West Ham United and Crystal Palace is still going, but it looks like a 1-1 draw in that one.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Henderson and Salah have been withdrawn by Klopp, with Wijnaldum and Oxlade-Chamberlain being introduced in their place.

There is very little happening in this game. That was the case before Liverpool's third too. Simply put, Wagner has got his tactics wrong for this game and Liverpool have taken full advantage.

SUBSTITUTION! Here comes Solanke for another token appearance. The young Englishman takes the place of Firmino.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

Huddersfield get the ball into the penalty area for what is probably the last time but Matip stands tall to deal with a high ball.

FULL TIME: Huddersfield Town 0-3 Liverpool

The full-time whistle goes at the John Smith's Stadium and Liverpool have emerged as 3-0 winners in as comfortable a fashion as you can imagine. Wagner described Klopp's side as vulnerable in the build-up to this game, but they never tested their frailties. Huddersfield are now seven without a win and are very much in a relegation battle.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.

If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.


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