Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told his players at Anfield last night that their draw with Chelsea was the most important game of the season because they learned the most from it ahead of the Europa League final.
Christian Benteke came off the bench for Liverpool to score an injury time equaliser in front of the Kop and for the last time in front of the Main Stand as we know it, with construction work finishing at the stadium this summer.
Liverpool can not achieve Champions League qualification through domestic competition and so their main priority is now the Europa League final against Sevilla on May 18. Victory next Wednesday would result in the Reds participation in Europe’s top competition next season.
Christian Benteke came off the bench for Liverpool to score an injury time equaliser in front of the Kop and for the last time in front of the Main Stand as we know it, with construction work finishing at the stadium this summer.
Liverpool can not achieve Champions League qualification through domestic competition and so their main priority is now the Europa League final against Sevilla on May 18. Victory next Wednesday would result in the Reds participation in Europe’s top competition next season.
“I said to my players after the game it was the most important game of the season because we could learn most from it,” Klopp said to reporters post-match. “We showed in the first 15 minutes what we are capable of. We were great, wonderful football without scoring.
“But there was not enough faith in our own quality so we lost patience and when you lose patience in football it’s always difficult. Without patience, we lost formation. We had a lot of moments around the box when we shot when we should have passed.”
Eden Hazard had opened the scoring earlier on at Anfield with a sublime solo effort shortly before half-time, but the Reds had dominated the opening proceedings without troubling Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, too much.
In the end, their unbeaten run in the league at home of seven games was extended to eight and Klopp believes it was the most important match of the season for his side.
“But there was not enough faith in our own quality so we lost patience and when you lose patience in football it’s always difficult. Without patience, we lost formation. We had a lot of moments around the box when we shot when we should have passed.”
Eden Hazard had opened the scoring earlier on at Anfield with a sublime solo effort shortly before half-time, but the Reds had dominated the opening proceedings without troubling Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, too much.
In the end, their unbeaten run in the league at home of seven games was extended to eight and Klopp believes it was the most important match of the season for his side.
Liverpool are now preparing to face West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon as their final game of the campaign, though Klopp will likely ring in the changes with plenty of his first-team stars staying at home to rest.
Three days later, Liverpool face Sevilla in the Europa League final in Basel. The team he selected to start against Chelsea is likely to be the starting XI next week, too.
Three days later, Liverpool face Sevilla in the Europa League final in Basel. The team he selected to start against Chelsea is likely to be the starting XI next week, too.
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