Jurgen Klopp believes his Liverpool side are now a tighter unit than they have been the last few seasons, the Daily Mail reports
A Mohamed Salah hat-trick helped Liverpool secured all three points in a 4-0 win away at Bournemouth on Saturday and extend their unbeaten league run to 17 games.
The Reds also moved top of the league after Manchester City fell to a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.
Almost exactly two years ago Liverpool went from a 2-0 lead to suffering a 4-3 defeat at Bournemouth, but Klopp now feels his side have a new-found control.
Klopp spoke after Saturday’s 4-0 victory at Dean Court of Liverpool’s dramatic 4-3 defeat two years ago:
I could probably draw for you the goals we conceded that day; we let Bournemouth come back into that game.
Unfortunately I cannot say that will never happen again but we are really more controlled in these situations now. It was a big step for us; very important.
Last year we were really flying and everything was brilliant, until we were not flying.
The difference between flying and not flying was quick last year.
It was something we wanted to work on. It’s worked out. That’s good. A few new players have come in and other players are more mature.
This squad is still not too experienced, that’s how it is. But we still have to improve, that’s clear.
Klopp was then asked about Virgil Van Dijk’s incredible performance, to which he answered:
I could write a book about Virgil’s strengths, I could write a book about Alisson’s strengths, but look what Joel Matip did at Bournemouth, how good he was.
He has absolutely no rhythm, but he trains on the highest level, and he’s not even in the squad sometimes. But then he plays and is excellent.
So it’s not about one person.
James Milner, it’s Premier League game number 500 and he plays at right back. It’s the least favourite position he would want to play, but he did the job, so that all comes together.
The centre-half alone can do nothing. Nobody can perform wonders. So we need all these boys around.
