Jurgen Klopp: I know exactly how good “special” Eden Hazard is

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has lavished praise on Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard after the Belgian netted a sensational winner in their Carabao Cup encounter at Anfield.

Hazard, 27, produced a moment of magic on Wednesday night after entering the fray in the second-half to snatch an 85th-minute winner against Liverpool in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The Belgian effortlessly weaved through the Liverpool defence before unleashing a thunderbolt strike straight out of the top drawer, netting past an out-of-favour Simon Mignolet and ultimately clinching a 2-1 victory in emphatic fashion.

Liverpool fans would have been hoping to bounce back from their first defeat of the season by facing an easier opponent this weekend; unfortunately for the Merseysiders, the two clubs will lock horns once more on Saturday evening.

Hazard has been in scintillating form this season, and ahead of the match, Klopp was in very complimentary mood, waxing lyrical about Chelsea’s star man.

“We all know we could have defended that goal he scored,” Klopp told reporters (via Goal). “We had three challenges. If one 100 per cent challenge is made from four or five [possible challenges] then Eden Hazard can’t do what he did.

“But he used the situation, both players were in doubt. We never want to do that. We need one for the challenge and two for protection.

“He did score – I respect that – but no player is not defendable. We have to make sure we close the right spaces.

“A couple of years ago we played Chelsea with [Diego] Costa and Hazard playing as two strikers, and I know exactly how good he is.

“That night it felt like we could defend all of them but not him. He’s a special player who enjoys these one-on-one situations.

“I didn’t need that [EFL Cup] game to know about Eden.”

Hazard loves playing against Liverpool

Hazard’s goal in midweek ensured he has now scored six goals against Liverpool across all competitions, which is more than he has scored than against any other ‘big-six’ side he has faced.

Prior to Wednesday’s goal, the 27-year-old had failed to score against the Reds in the previous two seasons, but he is now back up and running against the Anfield club, and given his fine goalscoring form in the league this season – scoring five in six – he will be hotly-tipped to bag another this weekend.

One thought of encouragement for Liverpool fans is that out of the six goals Hazard has netted against them, four have come at Anfield, meaning that he is less prolific in west London, where Saturday’s match will be contested.

The post Jurgen Klopp: I know exactly how good “special” Eden Hazard is appeared first on Squawka News.



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