Jurgen Klopp relieved after Liverpool get out of jail

Stoke City 1 Liverpool 2: Liverpool’s Champions League challenge is taking their players to their absolute limits — but manager Jurgen Klopp admitted he played his ‘get out of jail’ card at Stoke City.

Philippe Coutinho, some half a stone lighter after a bout of diarrhoea, climbed out of his sick bed then clambered off the bench to score the equaliser to set the Reds on their way to make it 16 points from the last 18 and cement third place.

And fellow half-time substitute Roberto Firmino, forced into a reduced role through fatigue after playing in two internationals for Brazil, plundered a scorching winner in the Potteries sunshine that was grand enough to win any game.