The media were impressed by Liverpool’s strong response and the control of the performance in the much-needed 3-0 win at Huddersfield.
The Reds stopped the mini-blip becoming a full blown crisis through a dominant win in Yorkshire to get back on track in perfect fashion.
Emre Can’s slightly deflected pile-driver and a sublime finish from Roberto Firmino gave Jurgen Klopp‘s men the half-time cushion their dominant performance deserved.
Mohamed Salah added gloss to the score-line when converting a penalty 12 minutes from time, sealing a thoroughly deserved and confidence-boosting win.
Klopp will rightly be delighted with the way his team bounced back to winning ways, and here’s how the media assessed an pleasing performance at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The media reflected on an important victory and praised the Reds for responding strongly to get back to winning ways
The Mail’s Dominic King assessed the performance as exactly the type of “organised” display needed to restore confidence:
They needed an organised performance of this nature to restore some confidence, not least because they have a sequence of fixtures in the coming weeks that will define whether this campaign is viewed as progress or an opportunity missed.
ESPN’s Dave Usher labelled it “a good professional showing” and noted how the win was crucial for tightening grip on a top-four spot:
Liverpool badly needed this result following back-to-back defeats against the Premier League‘s bottom two clubs, and although they were nowhere near their best it was a good professional showing that helps to cement their grip on a top-four place.
The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe praised Liverpool’s “collective application” to ensure the mini-slump was brought to an end:
But this was the response – and result – Liverpool needed. The kind of away win which did not rely on the individual sparkle of the forwards, but collective application.
The Liverpool Echo’s Neil Jones thought Klopp’s men showed they “learned lessons” from coming unstuck against Swansea’s five-man defence:
Thankfully, this was a different Reds side. They were sharper, in touch and in mind, moved the ball quicker and with greater purpose.
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Huddersfield are a team sinking, but Liverpool did what good teams should do to sinking teams. They respected them, they outworked them and they buried them. Lesson learned.
The Independent’s Mark Critchley rightly assessed that the welcome clean sheet made the three points even sweeter:
That these three points came through three unanswered goals, from Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah’s penalty, will only be more satisfying.
Reporters were impressed with various aspects of the performance – especially Liverpool’s improved control and physicality
ESPN’s Nick Ames was among numerous journalists impressed by Liverpool’s increased control:
Salah was generally quiet, Mane only a flickering presence and chances hardly bountiful in number; but they exuded a sense of control that has often eluded them and, crucially, rarely looked in danger at the back against determined opposition.
Bascombe was impressed with the “physicality” of the performance, which therefore saw Klopp’s side dominate the individual battles:
The physicality of the performance stood out as much as the skills easing them to victory, the anger of two ‘unnecessary defeats’ visible in every tackle. At times Huddersfield could not escape their own half – a passionate Yorkshire crowd was sedated by Liverpool’s dominance.
Jones praised by the improved balance of midfield and feels the same trio should Sunday’s top-four showdown against Tottenham:
Reassuring, then, for Klopp to watch Emre Can, James Milner and Jordan Henderson show that they CAN strike the right balance.
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Much better, from all three. Gini Wijnaldum tends to be preferred for big games – of which Spurs is one – but it’d be harsh to drop any of the three who started here. They delivered.
Ames praised an improved defensive showing from Klopp’s altered defence, and believes the boss now has an interesting selection dilemma ahead of Tottenham’s arrival:
Van Dijk was not missed in defence and Klopp now faces a poser: does he keep things broadly the same when Tottenham, who will be far more dangerous than the Terriers, visit Anfield on Sunday? After the criticism that has come Liverpool’s way lately, it is at least a nice problem to have.
On a different note, King took a cynical view on why Virgil van Dijk was benched, but felt that the Dutchman’s removal from the starting XI showed a strong message from Klopp:
There is another way to look at it, though. It would have been easy for Klopp to stick with his new £75million addition but his decision to put him on the bench, after a difficult night against West Brom, made it clear reputations or price tags do not matter when it comes to getting the right blend.
There was a nice change from recent games as numerous Reds were praised for their performances
The Mirror’s David Anderson was among those impressed by Jordan Henderson’s display and assessed the Reds “are clearly a better side” with the captain:
Jordan Henderson made his first start for Liverpool since returning from five weeks out with a hamstring injury and immediately stamped his authority on the Reds midfield.
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Henderson brought some order to Liverpool’s midfield, which has performed so poorly in the previous two games. His return is welcome for Liverpool and they are clearly a better side when he is playing.
Meanwhile, Bascombe felt Emre Can benefited from Henderson’s return as it allowed the German to flourish in a more advanced position:
Like those around, Can was also relishing Henderson’s return as it enabled him to play a more advanced midfield role. There was an energy lacking in the last two games.
Jones waxed lyrical over Roberto Firmino, assessing how the Brazilian offers a unique skillset:
He may have started as a ‘false’ No.9 at Liverpool, but there is nothing artificial about this centre forward, that’s for sure.
Few forwards, if any, boast his skillset. Whether in the Premier League or further afield, there aren’t many like him.
Finally, our own James Nalton reserved praise for Dejan Lovren, and thought the Croatian staked his claim to become van Dijk’s No.1 partner:
Onlookers also witnessed a reasonably good performance from Dejan Lovren and these days reasonably good is enough to see a player hailed as the new Maldini in this uncertain, often calamitous rearguard.
Joel Matip, meanwhile, could be the surprise contender to be the one who loses his place to Virgil Van Dijk, and the Dutchman could line up with fellow ex-Southampton defender Lovren if the clubs best defender so far this season, Ragnar Klavan remains sidelined.
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