Jurgen Klopp verdict on Liverpool hero Trent Alexander-Arnold: 'He only plays because he's good'
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ByEurosport
Updated 15/08/2017 at 22:02 GMT
Jurgen Klopp hailed teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold after his free-kick helped Liverpool complete a 2-1 win at Hoffenheim in the Champions League play-off first leg.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Image credit: Eurosport
The Liverpool manager described the 18-year-old right-back as "our little hero" after his opening goal set Liverpool on the road to a 2-1 win courtesy of a stunning effort on 35 minutes from outside the home area.
James MIlner saw a cross deflect into the net via Håvard Nordtveit on 74 minutes with Mark Uth scoring a consolation for the Bundesliga side on 87 minutes.
The return leg takes place at Anfield next Wednesday with Liverpool battling to reach the Champions League group stage where they will join Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham.
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Liverpool celebrate their win
Image credit: Getty Images
"He only plays because he's good. Offensively he's nice to watch and defensively he has space to improve," said Klopp on BT Sport.
"I am looking forward to another European night at Anfield. Hoffenheim are really difficult to play against because they have a plan and do it. It was good tonight, not perfect but good."
Klopp praised Liverpool's professionalism in the first-leg victory.
"We had more chances to close the game earlier but I prefer to win 2-1 than 1-0," said Klopp.
Hoffenheim had a specific plan to play and they we defended really well. Then they started playing diagonal balls and we gambled a little bit too much on the wing so left Trent Alexander Arnold and Alberto on their own a few times.
"When we played football we found the spaces inbetween and created some wonderful chances. There were a few harsh tackles from the other side to interrupt the game but if you told me before the game we'd win 2-1 then good."
Alexander-Arnold admitted it was a dream to score for Liverpool on his Champions League debut.
"It's a thing of dreams to make your European debut, and to mark it with a goal was very special," said Alexander-Arnold.
"It is always good to take a lead back to Anfield. I got egged on to take the free-kick, but I had the confidence to take it and it paid off."
In the night's other Champions League play-off matches, Young Boys dominated the second half against CSKA yet the Swiss ended up losing after an almost comical own goal.
A long ball was cleared into the Young Boys half which Nuhu headed into the air.
The Ghanaian then tried to head the ball back to goalkeeper David Von Ballmoos but instead it flew over the stranded keeper and bounced agonisingly inside the post and into the net as he tried desperately to claw it away.
Minutes earlier, CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev made a superb reflex effort to tip Guillaume Horau's shot over the bar.
FCSB, European champions in 1986 in their old guise as Steaua, held out fairly comfortably against an uninspired Sporting despite having Mihai Pintilii sent off with 10 minutes left for a second bookable offence.
The Romanians, runners-up in their league last season, could even have snatched a win as Gabriel Enache and Junior Morais both went close in the second half.
Azeri champions Qarabag beat FC Copenhagen 1-0 and APOEL Nicosia were 2-0 winners at home to Slavia Prague in the evening's other ties.
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