- Title: Klopp delights in Liverpool's last gasp win over PSG, Tuchel wants improvement
- Date: 18th September 2018
- Summary: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (SEPTEMBER 18, 2018) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) PARIS ST. GERMAIN MANAGER, THOMAS TUCHEL, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "The season's just started in the terms of the Champions League. For me, it starts today. Maybe we need to improve in our intensity in some parts of the field, but as I say it's early days in terms of the Champions
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2018 23:54
- Keywords: soccer football PSG James Milner Thomas Tuchel Liverpool Anfield Kylian Mbappe Firmino goal Champions League Juergen Klopp Neymar Paris St Germain
- Location: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0078Y5O5RZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Daniel Sturridge's Liverpool career seemed to be heading for a premature end last season but the striker showed on Tuesday (September 18) he may yet have an important role after taking his chance during a rare start in the Champions League win over Paris St. Germain.
Brazilian Roberto Firmino was left on the bench after suffering an eye injury in Saturday's Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur, allowing Sturridge to step into the side.
It was the 29-year-old's first start in the competition for Liverpool and his first start in the Champions League since he was part of Chelsea's title-winning team in 2012.
The forward spent the latter half of last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion as they fought in vain against relegation from the Premier League and it was a surprise when he was reintegrated into Klopp's side during pre-season.
The Liverpool manager had plenty of other striking options as back-up last season, but with Danny Ings having been loaned to Southampton and Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi injured, Sturridge was the only real choice to take Firmino's place.
He responded by opening the scoring on the half-hour with a fine header and throughout the game Sturridge was a strong physical threat and effective link-up player.
Firmino had recovered enough to come off the bench and grab the added-time winner but Klopp was pleased with both forwards, especially as the Brazilian looked set to miss out completely.
Klopp was pleased with the way his side took the game to French champions Paris St. Germain and dealt with their potent attacking trio of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.
PSG manager Thomas Tuchel felt his side performed well but insisted there is still room for improvement over the season. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None