Klavan eyeing improvements after 'special' victory
Ragnar Klavan says he was delighted to play his part in the 'amazing' spectacle that was Liverpool's season-opening 4-3 win over Arsenal on Sunday.
But the 30-year-old conceded that he and his teammates have plenty of work to do on the training ground in order to cut out the errors that resulted in the Reds' backline being breached on three occasions in the capital.
Klavan, who arrived at Anfield from Augsburg this summer, enjoyed an unforgettable start to life in the Premier League as Jürgen Klopp's team kicked off 2016-17 by coming out on top in a seven-goal thriller.
But, somewhat typically for a defender, the No.17's thoughts after the game were on the frustrating concession of three goals.
"It was a crazy game," he told the Liverpool Echo.
"This is one of the best leagues in the world and when your first game is against Arsenal you know it’s going to be at a really high level. It was a good for me to see what the Premier League is like.
"For the spectators, it was an amazing game to watch but there were good moments and bad moments for us.
"Winning was special but as a centre-half, when your team concedes three goals it’s never too great a day. You can’t be too happy.
"We have to look into that and we wil work on things in training for sure. There’s a lot of room for improvement."
Liverpool made a slow start to proceedings at the Emirates Stadium, only truly springing to life in the aftermath of Philippe Coutinho's phenomenal free-kick goal on the stroke of half-time.
And Klavan has explained how a combination of his Brazilian colleague's brilliance and advice from the manager got the visitors back on track ahead of the second period.
"It was our first game and maybe there was a bit too much excitement early on," he added.
"Arsenal started better. They had good pressing and for us the first 15 to 20 minutes were hard. After that we slowly came into the game.
"Luckily, Coutinho brought us back into the game and that was a good moment for us just before half-time. Philippe is brilliant, not only as a football player but also as a person.
"In the second half when we came out of the locker room we got straight down to business. We had talked in the locker room about the need to start the second half fast and take the game to Arsenal.
"We pressed higher, we were more active and it worked. At 4-1, if we could have kept it like that for longer then it would have been an easier game for us.
"But then they scored twice and it was a real game again. For us in the end it was a little bit nervous but we managed to stop them scoring that fourth goal and it’s a great start for us."
The Estonia international also reflected on his chances of remaining in the starting XI for this weekend's trip to face Burnley at Turf Moor.
"I enjoyed it but I have no idea whether I’ll continue to start," he added.
"For me it’s more important how the team does. If the manager decides that it’s better if someone else plays then that’s okay.
"That will just mean I have to work harder to come back. This way is good. The best guys always play to help the team."