[ad_1]
REUTERS: Liverpool great Graeme Souness says Aston Villa may have grown grass on their pitch a little more than usual in a bid to keep the Premier League champions from reaching top speed on Sunday .
A superb first-half hat-trick by Ollie Watkins helped Villa to a 7-2 win, giving Klopp’s team their first loss of the season. It was the first time Liverpool conceded seven goals in a game in any competition since 1963.
“… Which I would say Villa, and it’s the same for both teams, I think they have left the pitch longer than normal to slow down Liverpool’s movement,” said Sky Sports expert Souness.
“All the best teams want short grass, a fast pitch. That doesn’t sound like a fast pitch to me.”
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk told Sky Sports that they would review his performance but not be too discouraged.
“… We have to be very tough on each other, and we will be. It’s key not to go crazy, but we have to step forward.
“The level of performance between the last game against Arsenal in the league and today was too great … everyone has to take responsibility.”
Klopp said goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who missed the game with a shoulder injury, faces up to six weeks out and will miss his next game against Everton on October 17.
“… It could have been worse with that injury,” Klopp said. “I don’t want to put a deadline on it, but four weeks might be possible, six weeks maybe more likely.”
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Edited by Peter Rutherford)
