Huddersfield Town v Liverpool: Matchday blog
Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium thanks to goals from Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah (penalty).
Jürgen's view
Jürgen Klopp reflected on Liverpool's performance and the victory over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium on Tuesday night.
He also discussed who was down to take the Reds' penalty, the return of Jordan Henderson and Wednesday's transfer deadline day.
Click here to read what the boss had to say.
Here's the full-time verdict of ex-Red Nigel Spackman, who has been on co-commentary duties for us this evening at the John Smith's Stadium.
“A comprehensive win for Liverpool. Once the second goal went in there was no other result than three points for the Reds. The big thing was the clean sheet and that will give the team a lot of confidence and we now put the pressure on the other teams.
“Bring on the Spurs!”
Full Time
Reds back to winning ways
Liverpool secure a first win in three games with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium.
Emre Can and Roberto Firmino struck in the first half before Mohamed Salah's penalty made certain of the three points towards the end.
A good night's work for Jürgen Klopp's men.
Three minutes of added time to be played...
Substitution
Firmino off, Solanke on.
Ince turns and shoots from a good position inside the LFC box, but Gomez blocks.
Substitution
Double Reds change - Salah and Henderson off, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum on.
Goal
GOAL! MOHAMED SALAH!
He scores from the spot for goal No.26 of the season!
Penalty
Penalty to Liverpool!
Can goes down undwer Billing's challenge and it's a spot-kick to the Reds.
Salah speeds beyond Lossl to reach a poor touch from Kongolo, but can only steer into the side netting from a tight angle.
The home fans want a penalty as Quaner goes to ground as he and Robertson vye for a bouncing ball in the box, but the referee isn't interested.
Chance!
Another ball from deep from Can, another header from Mane... this time he's just off target after making a great run in behind.
Substitution
Mounie goes off for the hosts and on comes Quaner.
Milner lets fly with a whack from 20 yards that Lossl needs to push over the crossbar.
Chance!
Can sends in a brilliant cross from deep on the right, where Mane meets it with a header... but Lossl is able to gather low down.
Kick-Off
Up and running again...
Huddersfield re-start the game.
There's a warm reception for Danny Ward inside the John Smith's Stadium at half-time as he comes out to assist with a draw.
The goalkeeper is fondly remembered in these parts of the starring role he played in helping the Terries secure promotion to the Premier League while there on loan last season.
Half-time verdict
Here's how ex-Red Nigel Spackman saw the first half - he's on co-commentary duties for us tonight.
“Liverpool dominated the first half. We have dominated and been patient in possession. It’s good to see the energy is back in the team. That was a great finish from Bobby Firmino – a class goal from a class act.”
The first half facts and figures...
Half Time
Reds in command at the break
Goals from Emre Can and Roberto Firmino have given Liverpool a two-goal lead over Huddersfield at half-time at the John Smith's Stadium.
So far, so good for the Reds.
Goal
GOAL! ROBERTO FIRMINO!
Lovely, lovely stuff from Liverpool as Firmino collects Mane's lay-off and gets to the byline. He looks up to pick out a teammate, gives Lossl the eyes and then coolly slides the ball in at the near post to double the lead.
Get in!
Huddersfield go close as Lowe lines up a free-kick from the right-hand side of the box that curls around the Liverpool wall but bounces wide of Karius' far post.
Robertson rides a challenge inside the Huddersfield box, but his attempt to pick out a teammate in the centre is thwarted.
Goal
GOAL! EMRE CAN!
Liverpool's pressure finally pays off as they take a deserved lead.
A ball into the box is half-cleared to the edge of the box by Huddersfield. Can arrives onto it, lets it bounce then pings a half-volley goalwards that finds the bottom corner via a deflection off Billing.
It had been coming.
Can tries to bend the ball into the bottom corner with his left, but it's clawed away low down by Lossl.
Chance
Well, we did say it had all been Liverpool, but it's Huddersfield who fashion the best opening so far.
The ball is pulled across the box in the direction of Depoitre, whose first-time side-footer is beaten away by Karius.
A good chance for the home team.
Robertson bounds into the area after collecting Mane's flick; however, his attempt at goal is blocked by Schindler.
It's been all Liverpool so far.
First attempt on goal comes from Liverpool as Salah, Firmino and Mane all combine to create an opening - which Firmino strikes left-footed towards goal from the edge of the area, but it lacks the power to really test Lossl.
Kick-Off
And we're off!
Come on you Reds!
The teams are out... it's almost time.
A reminder of the line-ups this evening...
As he continues his recovery from injury, Adam Lallana is watching his teammates from the stands inside the John Smith's Stadium tonight - the press box to precise.
Warm up time...
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS KLAXON!
Liverpool make six changes for this evening’s Premier League clash with Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Among those back in the line-up include Jordan Henderson, while Dejan Lovren returns to partner Joel Matip, with Virgil van Dijk on the bench.
Liverpool: Karius, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Robertson, Can, Henderson, Milner, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings, Solanke, Alexander-Arnold.
Nigel Spackman is on commentary duty for our live audio service this evening – which you can hear for free online by clicking here. It’s well worth a listen if you can’t watch the game.
Like Molby, he is confident of an away victory, telling Liverpoolfc.com: “We need to bounce back tonight and we need a win.
“In the league you look at it and say we had that great run of going 18 games undefeated, playing really well and beating Manchester City but then we lost at Swansea City, which was a poor performance. It was poor against West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup as well so this is bounce-back-ability time, isn’t it?
“I’m going for an away win, 3-1 to Liverpool. Huddersfield Town are under pressure as well but the pressure is on Liverpool to perform tonight. The lads have got to perform tonight and I fully expect them to do so.”
A big call from the Great Dane...
The pre-match predictions are coming in and we've gathered one from Reds legend Jan Molby here at the John Smith's Stadium. "Energy is going to be important," says the former midfielder, who is backing the visitors to win 3-0.
Away from the John Smith's...
...for a moment at least, it's Peter Crouch's birthday today. The big man turns 37.
And on this day in 2007, he marked his special day with a brilliant goal in a 2-1 win for the Reds at West Ham.
And here's how our last visit here turned out in 90-second highlights...
Not quite friends reunited…
It’s no secret that Klopp and Huddersfield boss Wagner are very close friends, but affection goes out of the window tonight – as proved by the latter’s programme notes…
“This is an unusual game for me and I would like to welcome Jürgen, his coaching team and players to Huddersfield tonight,” writes Wagner.
“As everyone knows, we are very good friends – but that will not matter for 90 minutes this evening. Like Liverpool, we will invest everything to try and put in a performance and to win this game.”
Liverpool make their third ever visit to John Smith's Stadium - on both previous occasions (one FA Cup tie, one pre-season friendly), the Reds have won 2-0.
Same again tonight, etc.
What are the odds?
Huddersfield 19/2
Draw 9/2
Liverpool 1/3
Fancy a flutter? Click here to bet with BETVICTOR.
Henderson: We're thinking of Tommy's family and friends
Turning our attention away from the match briefly, a genuine Liverpool great was laid to rest today.
The funeral of Tommy Lawrence - the former goalkeeper who played 390 times for the Reds and won three major honours - took place in Warrington this afternoon, and club captain Jordan Henderson posted the following message on Instagram...
'The family and friends of Tommy Lawrence very much in all our thoughts today, as he is laid to rest. We will look to do him proud at Huddersfield tonight. RIP.'
We couldn't have put it any better, skipper.
Weather
With a little over four hours to go until kick-off, it's time for Liverpoolfc.com's first weather update of the day!
In short, it's not looking great here in Huddersfield. It's a dull and cold January afternoon, with temperatures likely to dip further by 8pm.
So bring your big coat!
'It's time to show the real Liverpool'
The thoughts of Emre Can ahead of tonight's game. Watch our exclusive interview with the No.23 below...
Take a look at the best bits from our last meeting with Huddersfield below.
That game at Anfield back in October ended in a 3-0 win and started an 18-match unbeaten run.
Something similar would be nice tonight please, Reds!
Did you know?
Take a look at some of the pertinent pre-match stats...
- Liverpool and Huddersfield are locked together on 26 league wins apiece after Klopp's side's 3-0 Premier League victory at Anfield earlier this season.
- The Reds are unbeaten in the last 10 league meetings with the Terriers home and away, winning seven and drawing three.
- The last league meeting between the teams in Yorkshire came at Leeds Road in February 1972, with a Jack Whitham goal earning Liverpool a 1-0 victory.
Jürgen Klopp held his pre-match press conference at Melwood on Monday.
The boss covered a wide range of topics, including the latest injury news, the return of Jordan Henderson and his penalty takers.
Catch up with his media briefing below...
Good afternoon and welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog.
The Reds visit Huddersfield Town this evening looking to return to winning ways following back-to-back defeats.
Take a look at how the two sides measure up with the interactive Opta data below...