Klopp's Reds back on their feet

There was no wallowing in self-pity either on the pitch or in the stands. No dwelling on that Wembley heartache 72 hours earlier.

Instead Liverpool took out their frustration in the best possible fashion as they demolished Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp got the response he had demanded in the wake of the Reds' Capital One Cup final defeat. It was a morale-boosting show of togetherness.

Of course an emphatic victory over Manuel Pellegrini's men only represented a modicum of revenge considering the stakes had been considerably higher in the capital.

But this was about more than simply paying City back by derailing their title hopes.

This was about proving that Liverpool's cup final agony wouldn't be a terminal blow to Klopp's first season at the helm.

This was about the Reds showing they had the stomach for the fight ahead by dusting themselves off and going again.

This was about gaining momentum ahead of the crunch Europa League showdown with Manchester United. All those boxes were ticked in style.

“You always have to strike back,” Klopp said pre-match.

He urged his players to channel that hurt and pain into “something positive” and they did that impressively.

It was City rather than Liverpool who suffered the mother of all Wembley hangovers.

The only tinge of regret was that Klopp's men hadn't been able to attack with this kind of fluency and vibrancy under that giant arch.

There were dominant performances all over the field but none bigger than Adam Lallana's.

This was one of those nights when the England international, who was making his first start for a month after recovering from a calf problem, looked like a £25million footballer.

Lallana epitomised Liverpool's work ethic as he ran himself into the ground. Having scored the first, he was then heavily involved in goals for James Milner and Roberto Firmino. The Kop chanted his name vociferously.

What a sweet evening it was for Milner. Unable to hold down a starting spot under Pellegrini, he haunted his former club with his best display for the Reds and earned a richly deserved ovation late on.

It proved to be a humiliating return to Anfield for Raheem Sterling. Booed mercilessly as a result of the sour taste left by his exit last summer, Sterling was expertly shackled by Jon Flanagan before being hauled off at half-time.

Handed his first league start since May 2014, Flanagan grasped the opportunity with both hands.

After all the recent talk about his contract situation, the tough-tackling full-back simply let his boots do the talking. He didn't put a foot wrong.

It's a no-brainer. Liverpool are a better team with Flanagan in it and a new deal needs sorting out quickly.

With Lucas Leiva and Mamadou Sakho injured, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho rested and Alberto Moreno dropped, Klopp made five changes from the starting line up at Wembley.

The centre-back duo of Kolo Toure and the fit-again Dejan Lovren barely gave Sergio Aguero a sniff.

It was an opening 45 minutes brimming with heart and desire as Liverpool stamped their authority on proceedings.

Flanagan welcomed Sterling back to Anfield with a crunching challenge inside 30 seconds. The hosts repeatedly shut down space and won back possession.

Divock Origi, who was making his first league start since he limped off against Leicester City on Boxing Day, epitomised that endeavour.

The young Belgian has deservedly jumped above Christian Benteke in the pecking order and after a slow start to his Liverpool career he's blossoming.

Origi led from the front – chasing down lost causes, holding it up intelligently and always making himself available.

His pace and power stretched the City backline with Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany reduced to kicking lumps out of him.

For half an hour Liverpool were better without the ball than they were with it. They found themselves in some glorious positions but failed to make it count.
Klopp, sensing that City were there for the taking, grew increasingly animated on the touchline. Waving his arms furiously, he urged his players to move the ball quicker.

Firmino, who raised his game significantly after being so off the pace at Wembley, belatedly tested Joe Hart.

City's attacking threat was minimal. Pablo Zabaleta's cross-shot was beaten away by Simon Mignolet but it was a rare moment of concern.
Sterling endured a nightmare. Having got no change out of Nathaniel Clyne at Wembley, he found Flanagan in similarly combative mood. When the former Reds winger did work his way into space he curled tamely wide.

Liverpool's central midfield axis of Jordan Henderson and Emre Can worked better than it has done for weeks.

It's difficult to make sense of Can. The young German is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.

He can be horribly erratic yet there is clearly some serious talent there.

There are flaws for Klopp to iron out but Can clearly has an unswerving belief in his own ability and this was a night when he shone brightly.

Eleven minutes before the break Liverpool were in front.

City backed off, inviting Lallana to try his luck. His bobbling 25-yarder didn't appear to have enough power behind it but Hart went down in instalments and it nestled in the bottom corner.

Energised by the breakthrough, Liverpool tore forward in search of greater reward and soon doubled their advantage.

Lallana was involved again as his back heel found Firmino, whose sweeping cross picked out Milner. The former City midfielder's first touch took him clear and he finished in style.

Briefly, City flickered into life. Flanagan tracked back brilliantly to deny Sterling in front of the Kop before Milner blocked Aguero's goal-bound header.

The Kop erupted before a ball had even been kicked at the start of the second half at news of Sterling's substitution.

Liverpool were rampant as they repeatedly carved City open. Origi was thwarted by Hart before the Reds made it 3-0 in the 57 minute.

Henderson's pass into Origi's feet was cut out by Gael Clichy but Lallana pounced, picking his pocket and surging forward. He unselfishly teed up Firmino, who swept it clinically past Hart for his seventh of the campaign.

Liverpool could and should have had more with Milner's fierce strike tipped over.

Klopp brought on Benteke for Origi and Joe Allen soon followed for Firmino.

Toure was a rock. When the veteran Ivorian shrugged off Aguero inside the box, Klopp celebrated like Liverpool had added a fourth.

Henderson's free-kick curled just wide before Allen went close with a dipping volley.

Klopp's Liverpool are back on their feet.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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