John Arne Riise believes Liverpool are currently playing “unbelievable” football under Jurgen Klopp, highlighted by their 3-0 Champions League win over Manchester City. Liverpool stunned the Premier League leaders by scoring three first-half goals through Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane to hand the Merseyside club a comfortable lead heading into the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night. Riise, who played for Liverpool between 2001 and 2008 and lifted the Champions League in 2005, thinks the team have a lot to thank their manager Klopp for. “He’s been there for a few years now and the football they are playing now is unbelievable,” he told Goals on Sunday.
“The players are responding to what Mr Klopp wants them to do. Some players are really catching up and showing some form in the last few months. “The game against City was unbelievable. The high intensity and the style they’re playing so hopefully next season we can get closer to the top of the Premier League. “I expected high intensity and pressure from Liverpool but I thought City would have more of the ball and control the game more. “The amount of aggression that Liverpool players’ showed from the goalkeeper to Roberto Firmino. Firmino and the defensive job he is doing is unbelievable. At the start of the game I didn’t think Liverpool would keep going for so long.”
Riise is wary of the threat Manchester City will pose his former club in the second leg, but he believes Liverpool have the firepower to get over the line. He added: “Liverpool always seem to score no matter who they play against. If they score one goal now they would have to get five. I’ve been 3-0 down before myself and one goal can change so much. If City can get one more, it could change.”
