Following Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Bournemouth and their battle through Storm Ciaran to secure a Carabao Cup quarterfinal spot, Jurgen Klopp praised his players’ will.
Darwin Nunez, a substitute, emerged victorious in the 70th minute, capping a demanding fourth-round match played in torrential rain and whirling winds.
At Vitality Stadium, Cody Gakpo gave the drastically altered Reds the lead at halftime before Justin Kluivert’s first English football goal gave the Cherries hope.
Reds manager Klopp, who made eight changes from Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, declared, “It’s a top, top, top cup game.”
“Winning and overcoming obstacles are the most important things.”
“The good thing about today is that everyone saw and felt it, so I don’t need to talk about the circumstances.
“It was undoubtedly very challenging for both teams.
“We had a chance to score more goals in the first half, but we didn’t, and in the second half, we realised it would have been a good idea because the wind had changed the game once more.
“We had some great moments and then we fought really hard to score our second goal, which was a fantastic goal.
“But at these times, attitude is everything.
“It’s clear that both teams desired it. Although everyone can expect it from the home team, I was able to witness firsthand how much my team wanted it, and for that I am truly grateful.
“In extremely peculiar circumstances, it was a top cup game.”
After coming off the bench, Nunez, a forward for Uruguay in form, scored his third goal in as many games with a thunderous finish into the top right corner ten minutes later.
After Gakpo’s second-half goal in the 31st minute was cancelled out by Kluivert’s close-range header from an Alex Scott corner, underdogs Bournemouth appeared well-positioned to go for a winner at that point.
According to Klopp, “Bournemouth did really well, and they had their moments in a difficult game.
“However, luck plays a part in life and in football occasionally, and Bournemouth undoubtedly had a few moments tonight where they could have wrapped things up a little bit better.
“Then Darwin displays his class and, with an incredible goal, essentially ends the game for us. We had much better opportunities throughout the entire game—five, six, and seven—but he scored the goal we needed.
“We had to drive home now, it was a long trip, but it feels great to move on to the next round.”
Bournemouth defeated Burnley 2-1 on Saturday to record their first Premier League victory under head coach Andoni Iraola.
However, despite finishing in the final eight, the determined Cherries were unable to build on their historic victory.
“We had a close relationship,” Iraola said. “For a brief period in the second half, we were winning the match.
“We had a difficult first half. The wind made it challenging. It was difficult for both teams to build up. Although it appeared that we would win the game with a second goal, Darwin’s goal ultimately proved to be the difference.
“We knew it would not be easy, but we had a great chance to be in the last eight with some big teams out.
“They finished the game with most of their starting 11 and had to push really hard to beat us.”