Jurgen Klopp not thinking about top-four finish for Liverpool yet
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Liverpool's Joel Matip celebrates after scoring against West Ham
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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LONDON – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted he is not yet hoping for a Premier League top-four finish, as a bullet header from Joel Matip on Wednesday gave the Reds a 2-1 win over West Ham United that moved them above Tottenham Hotspur and back into the European places.
The victory meant that his team are sixth on 53 points, six behind fourth-placed Manchester United, before their rivals’ match against Spurs on Thursday. United could go nine points clear if they win, and still have a game in hand on Liverpool.
“I can’t see the race yet, I can’t,” said Klopp.
“That’s because we are not in the position for a race. So the only thing we can do is winning football games, if that puts pressure on other teams (above).
“If they win all their games, that’s it for us. But I don’t think about that. I want us to finish the season as good as somehow possible. I want to take something out of the season for next year. If that is European competition, great. If not, we have to accept it and go from there.
“Tonight, the first half I liked the most for a long, long time, like the way we controlled the game.”
The Reds had to battle hard for their victory in London, with West Ham taking the lead in stunning fashion in the 12th minute when Lucas Paqueta cut in from the left and played a one-two with Michail Antonio, before firing home from the edge of the area.
But that lead lasted only six minutes as Liverpool responded well. Dutch striker Cody Gakpo received a pass in a central position, taking a touch before quickly unleashing a bouncing shot that evaded the dive of Lukasz Fabianski before nestling in the far corner.
Liverpool dominated possession throughout but the Hammers were dangerous on the break, and they had a brilliant solo goal by Jarrod Bowen early in the second half ruled out after a video assistant referee review found him to be offside.
Matip then got the winner in the 67th minute when he powered home a close-range header.
Liverpool’s Joel Matip scores their second goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
West Ham had a late shout for a penalty turned down when the ball struck the arm of Thiago Alcantara, but the referee waved away their appeals and VAR did not come to their aid as Liverpool hung on for their third win in a row.
Hammers boss David Moyes was left frustrated by the decision not to award his team a penalty for the handball, and he strode to the centre circle to confront referee Chris Kavanagh at the final whistle.
“When a player lunges in the box, it’s different from a slip, it’s different from trying to break your fall. When you lunge in the box, your arms out, it was a penalty kick,” he told BT Sport. REUTERS
