{"id":45485,"date":"2024-01-08T21:44:03","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T21:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/klopp-hails-liverpool-spirit-after-fa-cup-win-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-01-08T21:44:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T21:44:03","slug":"klopp-hails-liverpool-spirit-after-fa-cup-win-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/klopp-hails-liverpool-spirit-after-fa-cup-win-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Klopp hails Liverpool spirit after FA Cup win | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nLONDON:
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Jurgen Klopp saluted Liverpool’s fighting spirit as they kept fired-up Arsenal at bay to seal a 2-0 win in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Klopp’s side had to survive a sustained Arsenal assault at the Emirates Stadium before two goals in the closing stages gave them a hard-fought success.<\/p>\n

Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior headed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick into his own net in the 80th minute and Luis Diaz wrapped up the victory deep into stoppage-time.<\/p>\n

In the absence of the ill Virgil van Dijk, as well as Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo on international duty, Liverpool<\/a> showed they have the character required to win silverware this season.<\/p>\n

“In the end we came through. I’m really happy we could win this game. Arsenal could have won it without a doubt. We finished it off and it spoke for the character of the boys,” Klopp said.<\/p>\n

“I’m super proud. It was a super difficult draw. Maybe the most difficult we could have got.<\/p>\n

“It wasn’t an easy game to enjoy in the first half. We changed a bit at half-time.<\/p>\n

“We were really in the game in the second half. We scored the goals and fought for 95 minutes.”<\/p>\n

With Premier League leaders Liverpool chasing four trophies and facing a League Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham in midweek, Klopp<\/a> was relieved to avoid a draining FA Cup replay.<\/p>\n

Liverpool are two points ahead of second placed Aston Villa and five above fourth placed Arsenal as they chase a first title since 2020.<\/p>\n

By avoiding an Arsenal rematch, Liverpool will have a revitalising break after the Fulham game until January 21 when they go to Bournemouth in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

“We desperately wanted to avoid a draw. Now I don’t have to make any decisions which is good,” Klopp said.<\/p>\n

“Wednesday is the next game and then a few days off. We have to make steps if you want to be where we are. We will have a winter break now.”<\/p>\n

Klopp saluted the influence of England defender Alexander-Arnold, who kept driving Liverpool forward in the second half.<\/p>\n

“What a game he played by the way in all the positions he played. You see his class on the ball,” the German said.<\/p>\n

Arsenal have now won just one of their last six games in all competitions, losing three in a row to leave their once-promising season in limbo.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta’s side are out of the FA Cup and League Cup and are no longer in pole position in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Arteta admitted they had only themselves to blame after\u00a0 squandering a host of chances to take the lead.<\/p>\n

“The performance was there and the amount of chances too. We just have to win the game, but we lost it and we are not capitalising,” he said.<\/p>\n

“When you are better than the best team in Europe and you generate that amount of chances, I have not seen a team do it against them.<\/p>\n

“But it is not enough. The reality is, it is not enough.”<\/p>\n

Arteta insisted he would not panic despite Arsenal’s untimely slump.<\/p>\n

“When my team plays with this confidence what can I do? I am still behind them 100 percent,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It is what it is and we have to continue to play the same way and be more efficient.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n