Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp showed his concern for first-time scorer Bobby Clark, who came off injured in the second half of a 6-1 beatdown at home to Sparta Prague in the Europa League. The Reds advanced to the quarter-finals 11-2 on aggregate.
On Bobby Clark, who scored his first goal for Liverpool today, Klopp said: “Oh he played incredible. It was his first goal, but I think he won the ball back after another one, he played incredible.
“He is the one I’m worrying a bit about, because he actually wanted to take off more time. Bobby sits on the ground in front of me, I said ‘what’s with you?’ and he says, ‘yeah, I feel something around the ankle,’ so we have to see what that is. Hopefully nothing, but the steps the boy made… or, again, Quansah, it’s just really really good.”
Liverpool’s injured players’ positions could even be under threat, with Klopp paying due respect to how well his young players have been performing. He said: “It’s so nice, we had such a difficult situation with all the injuries and then the boys stepped in and they took their chances. It’s exceptional. So, really happy about that.”
On his other substitutions, Klopp was quick to wave away any concern of fresh injuries. Kostas Tsimikas began to look tired towards the end of the game, but the Liverpool manager did not think it would be too much of a problem. He said: “I think [Tsimikas] is fine, I’m not sure exactly what happened to him. I think he got a knock, but he should be fine, and Bobby I hope as well.
“Besides that, Joe was a precaution, Wataru was a precaution, Darwin was a precaution, and Mo recovered already in the second half.”
Mohamed Salah playing the full 90 minutes was also not planned, with the winger returning from injury for his first start since New Year’s Day. On his return, Klopp said: “Mo is a very experienced player, so I told him if you have to stay on, then I think it’s the first time I’ve told any player to just stop defending. That’s just how it is, don’t run in that direction anymore.
“He nearly set up another wonderful goal, I think Cody was offside in that moment, but yes. He’s very experienced, he got easily over the line.”
Mateusz Musialowski came on in the game’s dying moments, the 90th player to have been given their Liverpool debut by Klopp. On his inclusion, Klopp said: “I don’t care really about a statistic, but he deserved it as well. He’s an exceptional talent, but obviously here in the club we see football in a specific way and he got it now more and more. He is now ready. Another great kid.”
