Klopp on ‘special’ Brazilian, Mignolet blunders & mini-feud with Arsenal boss

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Jurgen Klopp was quick to defend Simon Mignolet following the Belgian’s mistakes against Arsenal last night.

Liverpool drew 3-3 with Arsenal, but two of the goals were Mignolet’s fault. He was beaten at his near post for their first and failed to deal with a corner for their second.

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He’s also set to sign a five-year contract, which worries most Liverpool fans enormously, but Klopp thinks his woes are mainly the fault of the defenders around him.

“On the set-play he needs help from all the players,” the German told the Echo after the game.

“Set-plays, we have to defend it better, that’s an easy thing to say. We have to work on it it, we will work on it, we will analyse it.

“We lose the first header, then there is the volley of Giroud. On a perfect day he can make a save but there were a lot of mistakes before.

“The pass is usually not allowed so we have to defend this before we talk about Simon.”

One player who did do himself justice though was £29m Brazilian Roberto Firmino – who bagged a brace and finally, properly announced himself in England.

“We forced it well, Roberto was special in mind and made his goal,” the boss continued.

“It was a perfect second goal, but then there was a little bit of us losing control especially around the second [Arsenal goal because we stopped.”

It’s now up to Firmino to carry on his development and put in these kind of performances on a far more regular basis.

Klopp and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had plenty of words on the touchline, but it appeared mostly goodhearted – and our manager confirmed as much after the game.

 

“I told Arsene why I was a little bit emotional,” he added. “It was clear in a good moment, in a good space, the fourth official – I asked him why he was there. He did not like it, that’s ok.

“I had nothing with Sam Allardyce and I had nothing with Arsene Wenger, I said what I said, it was too much.

“Five minutes later he told the referee, I had forgotten. No argument, it was friendly and full of respect.”

Now, Liverpool have three days rest before we host Manchester United – in what will likely be an equally feisty affair.

After United there’s an FA Cup Replay v Exeter in which we’ll surely play the kids, before an away trip to Norwich in the Premier League.

 

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