Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0
by James Nalton
at Anfield

AFTER seeing his Liverpool side secure an important win against Chelsea yesterday, Juergen Klopp spoke about the need for his players to focus and not be distracted by the media or other outside influences.

He believes the most important thing is for his team to keep their mind on their own performances.

“The biggest challenge for us is always facing the world outside: [the media] and other people,” said Klopp.

“We play our game but for example if five minutes before our game someone tells us ‘City lost,’ that’s not a help. You lose your focus.”

Jordan Henderson continued his good form or recent weeks and was involved as Liverpool broke the deadlock in the second half. His cross, hung up at the far post, invited a header and Sadio Mane obliged.

Anfield was relieved when the first goal went in but after the second, just two minutes later, it was ecstatic.

Mohamed Salah’s goal-of-the-season contender, scored in front of the Kop, produced one of the moments of Liverpool’s title run in. After cutting in from the right he rifled his left-footed shot past stunned Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa.

“It blew me away, I was really happy,” Klopp said of the goal. “I was in line with the ball, it was really, really outstanding.”

The Liverpool manager is looking ahead to his side’s meeting with Porto in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tomorrow, and also the next Premier League game against Cardiff yesterday.

“We go to Porto now which will be a tough one,” he added. 

“Pepe and [Hector] Herrera coming back makes them a different side, so it will be an interesting and difficult challenge. 

“Then we play Cardiff, and Cardiff fights [to stay in] the league. Everybody knows it’s a tough place to go.”