Match ends, Liverpool 3, Huddersfield Town 0.
LiverpoolLiverpool3HuddersfieldHuddersfield Town0
Jurgen Klopp said it "felt like Christmas" after Liverpool scored three second-half goals to dismantle Huddersfield Town at Anfield.
The Reds missed a penalty and offered little going forward during a turgid first half before Daniel Sturridge's 100th club goal, Roberto Firmino's header and Georginio Wijnaldum's finish secured the points.
It was a much-needed win after the 4-1 loss against Tottenham at Wembley last week, Liverpool climbing three places up the table to sixth.
"Three goals, three points, clean sheet," said Klopp after coming out on top in the tactical battle with his best friend and Huddersfield boss David Wagner.
"Tottenham was the worst game we played in the season and you can't ignore it. It can happen.
"The first goal against Huddersfield we forced the situation. The second one after a set-piece felt like Christmas. We had a lot of good set-pieces today.
"The third one was nice play. Big relief."
Huddersfield, who arrived at Anfield on the back of a fine 2-1 win over Manchester United, had frustrated the hosts in the first half before crumbling.
"Until the first goal we played defensively very well, we neutralised them. I haven't seen Anfield so quiet until the first goal," said Wagner.
"If you give one small chance away, they will punish you."
Sealed with a kiss
Klopp reacted at the final whistle by planting a kiss on the Huddersfield manager's cheek, yet there was little to love about Liverpool's first-half performance.
The Reds were deprived of the services of Philippe Coutinho because of injury while Dejan Lovren was also unable to start after getting hurt in the warm-up, Ragnar Klavan coming into the team.
Yet what followed was 45 minutes of pedestrian football by the hosts, who looked like they were suffering a hangover from last weekend.
Mohamed Salah's penalty, after Tommy Smith had pulled Firmino to the ground, summed up Liverpool's frustrations as Jonas Lossl beat the ball away and Jordan Henderson's first-time shot clipped the post.
However, it was a different story after the interval.
Smith's headed clearance fell straight to Sturridge, who advanced before lifting the ball over Lossl for his first goal since 27 August.
Suddenly, Liverpool were all flair and attack-minded.
Firminho's header from James Milner's corner gave the Reds some breathing space and it was game over when Wijnaldum smashed home the third.
Days like this have been too rare for Liverpool this season.
Home comforts for Reds
For all the criticism Liverpool have received for their defensive performances, this was their fourth clean sheet in five top-flight games at Anfield.
The Reds have entertained, amongst others, Arsenal and Manchester United yet Burnley remain the only team to scored at the venue in the league.
Huddersfield managed just one shot - Tom Ince's free-kick late in the game sailing high and wide as Simon Mignolet enjoyed a quiet shift.
It's an entirely different story on the road for Liverpool and their defence.
They have conceded 15 in five games on opposition soil in the league. Klopp knows he must address that record if Liverpool are to secure another top-four finish.
Away concerns for Terriers
Huddersfield's top-flight fate will not depend on this outcome or results at any of the other 'big six' in the Premier League.
It is their home form that will decide whether they stay up and last week's win over Jose Mourinho's United shows there is plenty of fight and spirit within the squad.
Yet Wagner will be disappointed with the way his side collapsed after winning the first-half tactical battle.
Huddersfield came to defend and they did that well until Smith's error let in Sturridge. There will be concern that there was little sign of a fightback after that.
Although the Terriers have picked up four points away from home, they have not scored in the past four league away games.
Man of the match - Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
German boss yet penalty woes for Reds - the stats
- No side has missed more Premier League penalties than Liverpool (34, level with Arsenal).
- Roberto Firmino has scored 24 Premier League goals, more than any other Liverpool player since his debut in August 2015.
- Huddersfield have failed to score in four consecutive away league games for the first time since October 2007, when they were in the third tier (5 games in that run).
- All 18 of Georginio Wijnaldum's Premier League goals have come in home games (11 at St James' Park for Newcastle, 7 at Anfield for Liverpool).
- Indeed, Wijnaldum's haul of 18 is the most goals exclusively scored at home by any player in Premier League history.
What's next?
It's back to Anfield for Liverpool on Wednesday when Slovenian side Maribor visit in the Champions League (19:45 GMT) before a match at London Stadium against West Ham on 4 November (17:30 GMT).
Huddersfield have a week to dust themselves down and prepare for West Brom's visit on November 4 (15:00 GMT).
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 22Mignolet
- 12Gomez
- 32Matip
- 17Klavan
- 18Moreno
- 7Milner
- 14Henderson
- 5Wijnaldum
- 11SalahSubstituted forSolankeat 81'minutes
- 15SturridgeSubstituted forCanat 74'minutes
- 9FirminoSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Karius
- 16Grujic
- 21Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 23Can
- 26Robertson
- 29Solanke
- 58Woodburn
Huddersfield
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Lössl
- 2SmithBooked at 41minsSubstituted forHadergjonajat 69'minutes
- 25M Jorgensen
- 26Schindler
- 15Löwe
- 17van La ParraSubstituted forKachungaat 34'minutes
- 19WilliamsSubstituted forMounieat 69'minutes
- 6Hogg
- 10Mooy
- 22Ince
- 20Depoitre
Substitutes
- 3Malone
- 9Kachunga
- 14Cranie
- 23Quaner
- 24Mounie
- 28Green
- 33Hadergjonaj
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 53,268
Match Stats
Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamHuddersfield
- Possession
- Home73%
- Away27%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away1
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away0
- Corners
- Home9
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away8
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 3, Huddersfield Town 0.
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Attempt missed. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
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Dominic Solanke (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Zanka (Huddersfield Town).
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Attempt missed. Joel Matip (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by James Milner with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jonathan Hogg.
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James Milner (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield Town).
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Attempt saved. Dominic Solanke (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Georginio Wijnaldum.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Dominic Solanke replaces Mohamed Salah.
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Emre Can (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Zanka (Huddersfield Town).
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Christopher Schindler.
Goal!
Goal! Liverpool 3, Huddersfield Town 0. Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Emre Can replaces Daniel Sturridge.
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Attempt missed. Tom Ince (Huddersfield Town) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Aaron Mooy from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Alberto Moreno (Liverpool).
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Elias Kachunga (Huddersfield Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Huddersfield Town. Aaron Mooy tries a through ball, but Tom Ince is caught offside.
Comments
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You are a typical plastic ManU fan; the team you say you follow wins today and how do you celebrate it? By doing what loads of the plastics do; wumming of a HYS on a Liverpool game.
Good luck to Liverpool in their next champions league game
Southampton Supporter
I believe, in terms of major trophies between LFC/MUFC, it's actually pretty close isn't it? In fact, United may even be in the lead.
I don't think there's enough of a gap to make your point relevant. In terms of mediocrity, I remember when United were a mid-table cup team, so I never expected anything more, and therefore appreciated the outstandingly good times all the more.
"Admit that man Utd are head and shoulders above Liverpool in this modern era."
When did the "modern era" start?
Since 2000 English clubs have won a grand total of 8 trophies in Europe - Liverpool have won 4 of them and Chelsea and Utd two each.
Man Utd are, and always will be, European minnows compared to Liverpool!
Always in our shadow.
I'm guessing youre not a native of Manchester commenting on crime in any other region considering scumchester is probably the UK crime capital, you really shouldn't be throwing stones here
These England players show more passion and are technically better than the overpaid, overrated, overhyped rubbish playing for the Senior National team.
Somebody like Southgate should make sure they start playing for their first team, Foden & Brewster to single players out are top quality.
He’s got to be the biggest troll on HYS!