Right then, I’m off. Here’s Richard Jolly’s match report. Bye!
A rapturous reception greeted the double change, laced with excitement and relief. It was a new signing and a new beginning and if the Anfield public were happy simply to see Luis Diaz and Harvey Elliott on the pitch, they had further reasons to celebrate Jurgen Klopp’s substitutions. The January buy made an encouraging debut, the teenager made the ideal comeback and a day that threatened to be awkward for Liverpool started to assume a near-perfect look.
For Diaz, an assist 11 minutes into his Anfield career was perhaps all the more auspicious given Jurgen Klopp’s indelible association with pressing. He harried a dozing Perry Ng out of possession to tee up Takumi Minamino for Liverpool’s second goal. For Elliott, their third was his first for the club and while it was taken beautifully — the winger taking a touch to control Andy Robertson’s cross and swivelling to dispatch a half-volley — perhaps his presence on the pitch was a greater achievement. It was 147 days since he dislocated his ankle against Leeds, when the immediate reaction was to fear for his future. A swift return had a stylish conclusion.
Much more here:
Steve Morrison has a chat. He also notably doesn’t seem aggrieved about the Kelleher incident.
Really proud of them. We conceded a set piece and then it was two really poor goals to give them the other two, so coming away from Anfield frustrated that we’ve given them three poor goals from our point of view is still tough. First half I thought we did well, had a couple of moments, could have had a pen. And then we had the moment right at the start of the second half. I personally think my striker’s got to get there first and go round him and put the ball in the back of the net. I’m really proud of them, but we’ve lost to three poor goals.
