Liverpool vs. Villarreal: Jurgen Klopp Reacts to Europa League Semi-Final Win

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp sparked a war of words with Villarreal counterpart Marcelino after the Reds beat the Yellow Submarine at Anfield on Thursday night to reach the UEFA Europa League final.

Speaking after Liverpool won 3-0 in the second leg and 3-1 on aggregate, Klopp answered Marcelino’s critique of his enthusiastic touchline celebrations. Andy Kelly of the Liverpool Echo detailed the testy exchange:

Klopp asked about Marcelino saying he wouldn’t celebrate a win like Klopp: ‘I wouldn’t be like him for a second in my life!’ #LFC

— Andy Kelly (@AndyK_LivNews) May 5, 2016

Klopp was never likely to hold back after a Bruno Soriano own goal and strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana overturned the 1-0 first-leg deficit.

Klopp reserved special praise for Sturridge, the oft-injured striker he’d opted against playing in the first leg, per David Prentice of the Liverpool Echo.

“Great game. Great game. You all see now when Daniel Sturridge is fit he is an unbelievable, unbelievable striker,” Klopp said. “But even he needs players to play with. I know about his quality. I knew before I came here, now I know better. Great player.”

But it was such an emphatic overall team performance that it initially left …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com