Klopp praises Reds side who ‘gave everything’ in Palace win

Jason Soutar
Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said Saturday’s win against Crystal Palace was “one of the most hard-fought 3-0s” he has ever seen.

The Reds were without Trent Alexander-Arnold through illness, which Klopp confirmed was not Covid related.

Sadio Mane scored his 100th goal for the Merseyside club, with Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita also on the scoresheet.


Early winner: Toney, replacing Jimenez in the shop window


Mane’s first-half strike made him the 18th player to reach a century of goals for the Reds, in what was his 224th appearance.

“His 100th goal for Liverpool. A massive mark,” Klopp said on the Senegal international.

“These boys work so hard and they reward themselves with these situations. It was a really good game for Sadio. He worked incredibly hard again. Mo scored from a set-piece too. And Naby… wow!”

On the performance, the German told BBC Match of the Day: “I told the boys that is one of the most hard-fought 3-0s I ever saw. We gave everything. We scored from set-pieces. Palace defended pretty well. I tell the boys, this is one of those games we need to win. We were not brilliant.

“The chips behind our full-backs gave us distance to cover. It makes the pitch really big. They have quality. We kept them quiet somehow. We need Alisson in moments, that is normal. I am fine with the game.

“We did not plan to leave Trent [Alexander-Arnol] out. He did not feel well after breakfast this morning. It is not Covid at least. You have to be sensible in these moments and send him home.

“Milly [James Milner] stepped in and for me it was man of the match performance. He was exceptional. He played outstanding. Like a young man.”

Liverpool’s only major summer signing Ibrahima Konate made his debut for the club.

And Klopp was full of praise for the Frenchman: “Top. It is something you dream of and want desperately but when it is coming it is different,” he said.

“You want the team to watch the games and see what we do. We need to have experience from what we see. And he did really well. So much potential. He will get better. Today, against Benteke and Edouard and Zaha, there were situtions where it is new for him. Step by step.”