Jurgen Klopp praised Liverpool’s “best” performances as the quadruple chasers reached the FA Cup final with a “special” 3-2 win against Manchester City on Saturday.
Klopp’s side kept alive their bid to win all four major trophies in a single season thanks to Ibrahima Konate’s opener and Sadio Mane’s double at Wembley.
Liverpool were three goals by half-time as they tore up City with a scintillating performance that Klopp rated as one of the finest of his reign.
City bounced back with second-half goals from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, but it was not enough to prevent the Reds from reaching their first FA Cup final since 2012.
IPL 2022- full coverage , Schedule , result , orange cap , purple cap , Mark sheet
“Absolutely proud, incredible. The first half was one of the best we’ve played. We did all the right things, we scored at the right times. We were outstanding. I loved every second of it,” Klopp said.
“The second half started with a goal for Man City and it started again. The quality of the city is insane.
“We have great respect for City and it is very difficult to win against them. But because we have these boys in our dressing room, we have a chance.”
Liverpool are embroiled in a fierce title fight with City, one point clear of Klopp’s men at the top of the Premier League with seven games remaining.
They drew 2-2 in Manchester in the league last weekend, and may still meet in the Champions League final.
Asked whether his FA Cup semi-final success could be the springboard for overtaking City in both the Premier League and the Champions League, Klopp said: “It’s not a statement, we are in the final now.
“I think City knew in advance that it could be difficult against us, that’s what it’s been like most of the time.”
While Liverpool are one step closer to football immortality, Klopp insists his progress to another final will make the crowd of fixtures difficult to achieve with a quadruple.
‘special moment’
“The quadruple thing I can’t believe it. Qualifying for this final makes the quadruple even more difficult.”
“I don’t think we have a completely empty week before the day of the last match. But we beat the strongest team in the world and it’s a very special moment.”
There is no rest for Liverpool in their trophy chase as they host Manchester United on Tuesday.
“Three days we play against United, who are fighting for a place in the Champions League. Historically it has not been a friendly game.”
“Then we play Everton, the position they are in, it will not be a friendly game. It’s (quadruple) incredibly impossible but let’s go for it.”
Pep Guardiola’s decision to field a weaker team will be second-guessed, but City managers are adamant that it was right to leave Kevin de Bruyne on the bench after the Belgian stitched up a leg injury.
With City’s triple bid over, Guardiola will have to revive his tired players quickly if he is to stop Liverpool in the Premier League and beat Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
“I have a lot of confidence in my players and selection. We had an awesome time in terms of fixtures and travel. That’s why we need new legs.”
“We were so inactive in the first half. We were afraid to support our teammates. We showed incredible pride in the second half when it comes to being tired. We had opportunities for extra time.
“We tried to infuse energy into the players, but sometimes it happens. This is Liverpool.”
Guardiola refused to blame Jack Stephens for City’s defeat as Mane scored Liverpool’s second goal due to an American keeper’s mistake.
“That was an accident. Ederson was close (to do) in the second game. The way we use our keepers, the way we spin them, I would say average, it can happen.”
“We have four days until the next game (against Brighton). For the two matches we are in, we have to recover well.”
read all Breaking News , today’s fresh news And IPL 2022 Live Updates Here.