Jurgen Klopp hailed his players’ hopes after Liverpool beat Bournemouth 2-1 against Storm Ciaran in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.Substitute Darwin Nunes scored a stunning winner in the 70th minute to end a tense fourth-round draw in pouring rain and a howling wind.
Cody Gakpo gave the Reds a first-half lead at the Vitality Stadium as the Cherries threatened to come from behind thanks to Justin Kluivert’s first goal in English football.”This is the best, best, best cup game,” said Reds boss Klopp, who made eight changes after Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest. “It’s all about winning and getting over it.“The best thing about today was that there was no need to talk about the situation because everyone saw it and felt it. “It was tough for both teams.”We could have scored more goals in the first half, but we didn’t.
In the second half the wind changed the game again, so we knew we had better score more goals. “We scored the second goal, a nice goal, we fought hard and had good moments.“But it all depends on your attitude at the moment. “Obviously both teams want it, everybody expects it from the home team, but you can see from our team that we really want it and we’re very happy. “It was the best cup game in strange, strange circumstances.”Uruguay striker Nunes scored the third goal 10 minutes after coming off the bench, firing a blistering finish into the top right corner.
Kluivert’s corner kick from Alex Scott was blocked by Gakpo at the second attempt in the 31st minute and Bournemouth were looking to win at this stage. “It was a difficult game. Bournemouth played very well and had some good moments,” said Klopp.”But in life, in football, sometimes you need luck. Bournemouth could have handled the situation a few times better tonight. “Darwin showed his quality after that and put the game away with a great goal.
We had a lot better chances throughout the game in games five, six and seven but that was the goal we needed and he he received it. “Now we’re on a long journey home. We had to do it anyway, but it’s much better to go through to the next round.”Bournemouth recorded their first win under manager Andoni Iraola with a 2-1 victory over Burnley on Saturday.But the energetic Cherries were unable to consolidate their historic victory in the round of 16. “We were very close,” Iraola said. “At one point in the second half, the game went our way. “We struggled in the first half, it was difficult with the wind. Both teams had problems scoring.
It looked like we were going to win the game with a second goal, but in the end Darwin’s goal made the difference. “We had great chances to get into the round of 16 against the big teams, but we knew it wouldn’t be easy.”They finished with most teams and we had to work hard to beat them.”
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