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Premier League | Gameweek 20
Dec 29, 2018 at 5.30pm UK
 
AL

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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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255
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