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Premier League | Gameweek 20
Dec 29, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
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5-1

Firmino (14', 16', 65' pen.), Mane (32'), Salah (45' pen.)
FT(HT: 4-1)

Liverpool boss Klopp refusing to take Premier League advantage for granted

:Headline: Liverpool boss Klopp refusing to take Premier League advantage for granted: ID:345487: from db_amp
The Reds boss will not allow his players to become complacent despite their healthy lead.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he is not "an idiot" and is taking nothing for granted despite their nine-point lead at the top of the table.

A devastating 5-1 win over Arsenal, coupled with Tottenham losing 3-1 at home to Wolves, extended the Reds' advantage at the top.

Third-placed Manchester City have the chance to cut their 10-point deficit with a win at Southampton on Sunday before they host Klopp's side on Thursday in a game they arguably have to win.

"I didn't see a smile on any faces in the dressing room. Just see it (the result) and then go on.

"In the moment it feels like a marathon what we are running. Before the marathon: the weather is brilliant, new trainers, new shirt, new everything.

"The people say, 'You will win today' but first I have to run. The people all around us are buzzing and one guy has to run. We have to run. That's what we try as good as possible."

Liverpool responded brilliantly to conceding only their eighth league goal of the season when Ainsley Maitland-Niles opened the scoring in the 11th minute.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles lit the touchpaper on an exciting match at Anfield (Peter Byrne/PA)

They scored four goals in just over half-an-hour through Roberto Firmino (two), Sadio Mane and a Mohamed Salah penalty before Firmino completed his hat-trick with another spot-kick after the break.

"2018 ends with a Christmas present from Mo Salah. I love it, the gesture, giving the ball to Bobby so he can score a hat-trick," said Klopp.

"In the moment I was not too happy because in training Bobby doesn't finish with penalties too often, to be honest, but obviously today it was his day and absolutely OK.

"It worked so it was one of the nicest things I ever saw in my life. I don't know a lot of players who would do that. So far, the gesture of the season."

Arsenal boss Unai Emery admitted they endured a tough time at Anfield.

"After our goal they pushed and when they push here they play with determination," he said.

"This is a difficult moment for us, it was a bad experience for us.

"But from a bad experience you must learn. Two penalties were a lot for us to take. VAR will help referees to make better decisions."

Asked what he thought of the award of two spot-kicks he added: "It wouldn't change the score, Liverpool deservedly won."

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
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