MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 09:45:24| >> :60:1730:1730:
[monks data]
Attendance: 52,908
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 17
Dec 16, 2018 at 4pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

3-1

Mane (24'), Shaqiri (73', 80')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Lingard (33')

Klopp: It is one of the best wins since I joined Liverpool

Klopp: It is one of the best wins since I joined Liverpool
© Reuters
A emphatic victory over Manchester United sent Liverpool back to the top of the league.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is paying no attention to what Premier League title-rivals Manchester City are doing as his side hit back in the ding-dong battle at the top of the table.

A 3-1 win over Manchester United – the club's first in nine attempts and Klopp's first as Reds boss – returned them to the summit after Pep Guardiola's side had moved above them on Saturday.

Liverpool have a chance to extend their one-point advantage further as they play Wolves on Friday night but Klopp is focusing on what his side do and not what their rivals are up to.

"We ignored it completely. I didn't mention it one time," he said.

"We know the table, just are you focused on it or not. We played tonight against Man Utd and not Man Utd and City.

"When we eat and train together we are not saying 'Did you see what City did?'.

"We are focused on what we need to do and will there come a moment in the season where we are still around them and we start hoping they drop points or whatever.

"But at the moment we respect them a lot and they respect us. We meet them on January 3 and then we will think about them."

Sadio Mane's brilliant opener was cancelled out by a first-half error by goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who dropped Romelu Lukaku's cross at the feet of Jesse Lingard, but Xherdan Shaqiri came off the bench to score twice in the last 20 minutes for a deserved victory.

Klopp was impressed by the way his side, still unbeaten, went about their task after two successive goalless draws at home to United.

"Very, very (pleased). It was a good game. A brilliant start, one of the best performances we've had since I'm at Liverpool," he added.

"The first half an hour was outstanding. We scored only one but I don't think anyone expected to score four or five times or whatever.

"How we played was just perfect: we tried to pass in the right areas, we played in behind the lines and was just good.

"Then after half an hour we lost momentum of the game a little bit, they scored then, it was a little bit open.

"It wasn't as if Man United come completely on top of the game, it was just a bit more open.

Both Xherdan Shaqiri's goals were deflected off a defender
Both Xherdan Shaqiri's goals were deflected off a defender (Peter Byrne/PA)

"Then they changed and when (Marouane) Fellaini is on the pitch it is never a good sign for the opposition because these balls are so difficult to defend.

"But we got the dominance back step-by-step and then Shaq closed the game.

"It was really nice and I think absolutely deserved."

Shaqiri took his tally to five for the season with his double after a brilliant 20-minute cameo.

"Shaq is such a skilled boy, he has to make an impact forward. It wouldn't make much sense for him to receive the ball and pass it back," said Klopp.

"We needed a bit of luck, both goals deflected, but being in the situation was good football and the first goal, what a goal.

"Brilliant, exactly like we have to do it. Fantastic pass, super control, perfect finish."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Carl Markham, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '76558abd-66b2-48be-9159-b26a75fbf1d0');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Klopp: It is one of the best wins since I joined Liverpool'});

ID:344412: cacheID:344412:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9748:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Roberto Firmino embraces Xherdan Shaqiri in celebration during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United on December 16, 2018
Read Next:
5 things we learned from this weekend's Premier League action
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!