LIVERPOOL // Jurgen Klopp’s ability to defeat German sides earned him the chance to manage Liverpool. That capacity to overcome his compatriots remains as he illustrated while Augsburg were duly defeated.
This may prove a momentous week for Klopp but it was scarcely the most memorable of European nights at Anfield. He could become the first German manager to win a major English trophy on Sunday when they face Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final.
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This formed the warm-up. Liverpool go to Wembley having booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League, kept a third consecutive clean sheet and buoyed by a win. The job was done, not as easily or emphatically as they may have hoped, but progress was deserved.
James Milner’s early penalty proved decisive. It was only Liverpool’s seventh goal in eight European games this season, a statistic that shows a struggle to score has been a constant. They fashioned chances aplenty but only converted the first.
Klopp’s side were nevertheless dominant. They played with verve. Philippe Coutinho showed that his return to fitness has lent Liverpool much-needed creativity. Alberto Moreno formed an energetic outlet on the left. Daniel Sturridge brought menace. It helped, though, that Augsburg were such limited opponents. They languish in 13th place in the Bundesliga and their most potent striker, Raul Bobadilla, was only fit enough for a cameo.
They trailed long before he was summoned. Dominic Kohr handled Jordan Henderson’s cross and Milner slotted in the resulting penalty. The award irritated Augsburg. The offence was all the more needless because Kohr was only challenged by his teammate Caiuby as both leapt.
Thereafter, Liverpool were frustrated by Augsburg’s obstinate goalkeeper. Marwin Hitz blocked Coutinho’s prodded shot, Roberto Firmino’s rising, rasping effort and Sturridge’s fizzing attempt to beat him at his near post. The striker shot wide during an offensive at the start of the second half while Henderson also found Hitz in defiant mood after bright work by Firmino.
As long as Liverpool’s lead was by a solitary goal, they were imperilled, as much by their carelessness as by their opponents. Lucas Leiva, deployed as a makeshift centre-back, applied too little weight to a backpass. Cauiby read it and rounded Simon Mignolet but found the angle too acute to equalise. Mignolet also had to rush from his line to deny Tobias Werner while Kostas Stafylidis was inches from sending Augsburg through with a 90th-minute free kick.
And without the cushion of a second goal, it was harder for Klopp to rest players with Wembley in mind. As it was, he removed Sturridge with 25 minutes remaining. Coutinho, too, came off. Liverpool’s classiest players have greater goals to pursue in London at the weekend.
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