. Liverpool, UK
Liverpool look to FA Cup final as PL title in doubt despite beating Villa
Jordan Henderson claps for fans showing support in Liverpool's away game against Aston Villa. (Photo Credit: Instagram/@liverpoolfc)
- Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-1
- Fabinho was injured during the game but the player isn't too worried
- Liverpool next face Chelsea in the FA Cup final
Liverpool snagged a much-needed win against Aston Villa in an away game as Jurgen Klopp's side beat former Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard's team 2-1 in the Premier League fixture.
This brings the Merseyside club at level points with rivals and current table-toppers Manchester City, though Pep Guardiola's side have a game in hand.
In the post-match conference, the Reds' 54-year-old manager commented on the fiercely competitive PL title race, which saw Liverpool trailing City by a mere point until the former had a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and the latter beat Newcastle 5-0, going three points clear.
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"We don’t waste energy thinking hopefully they [Man City] lose", Klopp said, adding that Liverpool had other pressing concerns like the upcoming FA Cup final fixture against Chelsea on May 14. The German coach said, "Now we have to really recover and to play the FA Cup final because there is no mercy. The situation, qualifying for the finals, is massive", adding, "Their quality and mentality and character is the reason why we are where we are. I’m not surprised they can do something like this but I don’t take it for granted."
This season, Liverpool is playing every fixture possible, having also cemented a place in the Champions League final, where they meet Real Madrid in Paris for a shot at European glory.
With the PL season heading to a close and the Reds being in two crucial finals, the squad's health is of primary importance, which is why Fabinho's injury in the Villa game came as a blow.
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Klopp addressed this, saying, "He felt a muscle, not too much. It was not the thigh, but the other side [hamstring]. He is quite positive but I’m not sure what I can take of that, to be honest. We will see", and added, "I can’t say when he’ll be ready. Nobody has an answer for that. He has a good feeling and that gives me a better feeling than I had when I took him off."
The manager continued, "If you ask me now, I’d say leave Fabinho out [for this game] but I can’t turn that back. He was completely fine before the game."
The game between the two sides got a little physical and the title dreams for both Liverpool and City somewhat lie in Villa's hands. While there wasn't any other incident, Naby Keita gave fans a scare late in the game. Klopp said, "The rest came through without too many problems", adding that there was no reason to worry about Andy Robertson, the sparky Scottish left-back, who'd been left out of the squad for the fixture.
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"Robbo wasn’t in the squad because I wanted to give him a rest at home and brought another striker into the squad if we needed. That’s it. Apart from that, we should be fine", Klopp said.
Klopp also addressed the refereeing gaffes of Jon Moss, who retires at the end of the season. His decisions left much to be desired and both Villa and Liverpool felt aggrieved. "I hope Jon’s performance is looked at", the German concluded.