Jurgen Klopp has lauded the set-piece quality of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as his dead-ball delivery again proved key in the 2-1 win over Everton.
Liverpool made it 16 Merseyside derbies unbeaten on Friday evening, as they got the better of their locals in thrilling fashion in the FA Cup third round.
It wasn’t always a contest littered with attractive football at Anfield, but the tackles were flying in and controversy was never too far away.
James Milner‘s penalty gave the Reds a half-time lead, but Gylfi Sigurdsson fired home to level the scores after the interval.
Virgil van Dijk towered above the Everton defence to score the winner after 84 minutes, sending Anfield wild and Liverpool into the fourth round.
Although the debuting Dutchman understandably made the headlines, Klopp gave an deserved mention to Oxlade-Chamberlain in his post-match press conference.
“You cannot score a header off a set-piece unless the set-piece is good,” Klopp said.
“Oxlade for the second game in a row made a goal from this.”
The manager is spot on in his assessment, with the Englishman’s delivery for Van Dijk’s winner absolutely on the money.
He also curled in the free-kick that eventually led to Ragnar Klavan poaching a dramatic stoppage time winner at Burnley on New Year’s Day.
Liverpool have been poor from set-pieces at both ends of the pitch for too long, but there are signs that this is now changing.
Van Dijk is a huge addition in that respect, and in Oxlade-Chamberlain, has Klopp finally found someone who can consistently provide good quality into the penalty area?
That’s now five set-piece goals in six matches for Liverpool.
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