Klopp: Now we'll have to go for it in the second leg

• Report: Reds held to first-leg draw by FC Augsburg
• Photos: All square in Germany between Reds and Augsburg

Neither side could find a breakthrough in the Round of 32 clash, meaning the winners will be decided in the return at Anfield next week – when the Reds have got to ‘go for it’ according to the manager.

Klopp said after the final whistle: “One part of it is it’s a draw, a 0-0 in an away game in a Europa League first leg. Everything is OK. But in our situation, I’m always interested in results, but the performance too.

“We had a few great moments, really good play and an early chance in the game. Especially in the second half, there were good moments in possession and good passes. There were some other moments we were not happy with – that’s how it is.

“At the end, it’s a 0-0 and I’m not 100 per cent satisfied. We have a chance in the second game, of course, and hopefully we can use it. I want us to play the level we are able to more often.”

He continued: “We could have created more chances, that’s clear. You saw the moments when we played the wrong pass, lost patience or made the wrong decision. Things like this can happen, I know this and it’s not a big problem.

“I could say 0-0 is a top result, let’s go home and win the second game. But I think it’s important we speak with the team about the things we can improve. Especially a compact formation – there were a lot of situations on the counter-attack where it was completely unnecessary that they had them.

“We have to stand better in protection, you can win easier balls. It’s not about defending, it’s about protecting your own offensive situation. You can win easy balls back and then you have the space you had to work for a few minutes ago. It’s much easier and makes absolute sense.

“This team didn’t play too often together in this formation in key positions. Against Aston Villa, from a specific moment it was an easy game – not because of the quality of Aston Villa, you can have days like this.

“German teams are really strong on the tactical side; they defend really well, close gaps and don’t offer any space. In the second half, you could see Phil [Coutinho] was better. He was good in the first half but better in the second half and created a few really important things for us.

“We saw in the first half which spaces we could use, with high full-backs and wide wingers in the half-space. If you play together more often and the players have rhythm, it’s better. That’s what we have to work for.”

Liverpool will welcome the Bundesliga outfit to Merseyside next Thursday, three days before they run out at Wembley for the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City.

Klopp was asked whether the goalless stalemate in Augsburg would have a knock-on effect in terms of his plans for the Europa League second leg and the subsequent showpiece.

“Maybe it’s a different team but we shouldn’t think too much about the final,” he responded. “We cannot ignore it and I will not ignore it.

“How it could be easier? Winning 5-0 tonight and making a friendly game in the rematch? It’s not possible to beat Augsburg 5-0, so there was no chance for us to have an easy game in the second leg.

“If you win 1-0 or 2-0 tonight, nothing is decided. We have to be really concentrated in the second leg and show that we want to go to the next round.

“If you always give 100 per cent, in the end you get the benefit. If you save energy or power for the final, you will lose on Thursday and Sunday. So we should be concentrated on Thursday and then think about Sunday.

“Augsburg will come to Liverpool, they will defend and they’ll play for the counter-attack. I think the result is good. We know an away goal would have been good. We didn’t get it, so now we’ve got to go for it in Liverpool.”