Klopp hails Firmino but plans set-piece training

Mark Holmes
Olivier Giroud: Scores Arsenal's second goal against Liverpool

Olivier Giroud: Scores Arsenal's second goal against Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp heaped praise on Roberto Firmino after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw against Arsenal but rued his side’s defending at set pieces.

Roberto Firmino scored twice in the first half, the second a brilliant strike which flew past Petr Cech into the top corner, but they were cancelled out by goals from Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud before the French striker struck again to leave the hosts needing a late Joe Allen volley to salvage a draw.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was delighted with the performance of the Brazil international, preferred to striker Christian Benteke, in a false nine position.

“I could talk about this for half an hour,” Klopp said of Firmino.

“He doesn’t know how good he is. If you are good, you have to show it.

“All of them were really good, perfect goals; the first goal was really good, the second spectacular, brilliant.

“But he was not the only one. I could talk about other special performances.

“Playing against Arsenal is not too easy. They tried everything but if you want to win against Arsenal you cannot have these lapses of concentration.”

While Klopp was happy with certain aspects of the performance, he was less pleased with some of his side’s defending, particularly at set pieces.

“It was a great football game and ultimately we will talk about this game maybe not too long because Sunday is Manchester United, but it is not easy to forget,” he said.

“The beginning was really good, not perfect but not too far away from it.

“Set-plays we have to defend better. We have to work on it, will work on it. We will analyse it and work it better.

“The second goal, the set-play, he (Simon Mignolet) needs help from all the players.

“At half time we came back in the game and again I think it is brilliant from Giroud, but in the beginning we have to defend it better and be more concentrated.

“Then you have low battery and you need a bit of luck and we had it. We changed players and I think it was a well-deserved draw.”