Sports

Liverpool’s FA Cup win completes the double, but can they shake off the fatigue to claim two more wins this season?


LONDON — Liverpool leaving absolutely nothing on the pitch in their pursuit of their back four. Now two goals, two games to go, after winning the final penalty shootout of the second cup Chelsea This season saw Jurgen Klopp’s side add the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup they lifted at Wembley three months ago. But with Mohamed Salah limping with a groin strain in just 33 minutes and Virgil van Dijk Unable to play more than 90 minutes, time would pay the price of an entire win over Thomas Tuchel’s side, which saw Chelsea claim the title by becoming the first team in FA Cup history. lost the final for three consecutive seasons.

“We are mental monsters, but there are also mental monsters with the color blue,” said Klopp. “It’s a penalty [between the teams]. Chelsea played brilliantly, but in the end, there had to be a winner and that was us today.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my boys, the change they put in, how hard they fought, the early changes.”

Report: Liverpool win FA Cup, beat Chelsea on penalties
WATCH: Tsimikas successfully converted a penalty for Liverpool (USA)
Video: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool lifts the FA Cup at Wembley

History tends not to remember losers, and Chelsea’s inability to win again is quickly engulfed by a red wave of Liverpool praise. Even if they have not won another this season, Liverpool have achieved a domestic cup double, a feat they last achieved in 2001, and that year they also won a European Cup. European big when they beat Spanish club Alaves to win the UEFA Cup.

Klopp’s remarkable side are still continuing to repeat that treble by beating Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris on May 28, but before that, Liverpool can lay the groundwork for an unprecedented quartet by going above and beyond. City of Manchester in the race to the Premier League title. It remains the hardest, and most unlikely goal Liverpool have achieved. Man City could take a clear six points with two games remaining with a win at West Ham on Sunday, but regardless of the outcome at the London Stadium, Klopp’s men will have to go down the well again. into the Southampton on Tuesday, they need to win to keep their championship hopes alive.

From Kostas Tsimikas’ decisive penalty, which scored 6-5 in Saturday’s cup final in Liverpool’s favor, to the game against Southampton, Klopp’s side have just 72 hours to recover from the physical and mental toll of this grueling Wembley win. And that is the biggest problem Liverpool now face in a quadruple task: will they have enough time to play, win and recover before the next challenge?

By the end of extra time, the Liverpool players were almost unable to run. They were so exhausted by the demands of facing expiring European champions that the penalties actually provided some form of physical relief. Luis Diazwho had six attempts to score in a sensational performance on the left, was replaced by Roberto Firmino another seven minutes because he ran out of energy, while the left-back Andy Robertson was replaced by Tsimikas in the 110th minute.

When Liverpool take on Real in Paris, Diaz and Robertson will be two of the first names on Klopp’s squad, so their withdrawal at Wembley has significant implications for their manager. Be careful not to push them too far and risk injury. That fate has already happened Fabinhowho missed the game because of a hamstring strain in the 2-1 win in Aston Villa midweek, but Klopp is confident that Brazil Midfielder will be suitable to face Real.

However, there will be concerns about Salah and Van Dijk. Both are vital to Liverpool’s side – arguably their most important players, along with goalkeeper Alisson Becker – so their absence in Paris would be a blow. However, they could also be needed against Southampton and, if Liverpool win that game, at home to Wolves in next Sunday’s season final.

Daily ESPN FC live stream on ESPN+ (US only)
– No ESPN? Instant access

Klopp is a sensible manager, and he won’t risk his best players unless the stakes are so high that he has to, but Liverpool are now at a stage where every game is a no-brainer. great. All are must-win matches, but the players can only push their physical and psychological limits so far, and the situation with Fabinho, Salah and Van Dijk is a testament to that. .

“I think Virgil is fine, but his muscles hurt,” said Klopp, in an attempt to allay concerns about his centre-back.

Even if they all run out of steam against Southampton on Tuesday, their muscles and minds are starting to feel the heat, so things are now at risk for Klopp. Liverpool are trailing the four-goal group with their fingertips, but they still have some grip and that’s remarkable considering their workload.

They are now potentially two weeks ahead of history. Two goals down, two go through, but the next two games are the hardest to win, especially when injuries start to pile up.



Source link

news7g

News7g: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button