Jürgen Klopp on Palace win, LFC's defending and Coutinho class

The Premier League fixture turned into a thriller as the visitors took the lead three times in the opening half, through Emre Can, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip.

A brace from James McArthur had pegged Klopp’s team back on two occasions, while both Alberto Moreno and Philippe Coutinho struck the woodwork.

The second period proved calmer and a sublime finish by Roberto Firmino finally put paid to Palace’s hopes of claiming anything from the contest.

Read on for Klopp’s thoughts on the match, his side’s character and defending, and another eye-catching Coutinho performance…

On his assessment of an incredible game…

Sorry for this boring performance! I think we were responsible for the bad atmosphere. Of course, it was all good. I was not too happy with the start, not clear enough, not direct enough. Good football-wise, but not how it should be. Then we scored nice goals and created unbelievable chances. We really could’ve scored more, I think everybody agrees with this. Then we opened the game up again ourselves, we thought there is always excitement when Liverpool is part of the game! I think their first goal especially was a present, and the second goal was not good defending and at the end a good header, so that opened the game. Of course, the atmosphere then was really intense. We scored the third before half-time and then second half, the beginning was... we were not clear enough, we didn’t play football enough. That’s a problem, so it was still a wild game and we invested a lot. It was a pretty warm Christian Benteke – he was jumping in the sky, deflecting all the balls, difficult to defend. We score the fourth. Everything could’ve happened in this game, but I don’t think anyone could say it was not a deserved win, so all good from our side.

On the character his team showed...

Since I’ve been at Liverpool I’ve been happy with the character of my boys. That was never a question for me, but it’s still football and you cannot strike back every day. You should not come in situations like this too often but we’re good enough to find a solution in situations like this. 2-0 would’ve been better for half-time than 3-2, but now everything is good.

On whether he likes playing in London given his good record there…

When you travel as a football club, you don’t see the difference between the cities. You land somewhere when it’s dark, you drive on the bus to the hotel when it’s dark and then today you drive to the ground when it’s dark, so it could have been anywhere. I liked London before I became a manager in England. We’ve had a few nice results here, that’s true.

On Liverpool’s defensive performance…

We will sort the defence – what then happens, we will see. They can defend really well. I know after this game that everyone will talk about this. Inside a football team, you are not in the dressing room saying ‘You are a really bad defender’ and ‘You are the goalkeeper, where are you?’ and all of those things. They are all human beings, we work on it and I am completely convinced about the quality. If they make mistakes and stay in the game, then it’s a very good test for them – and they stood in the game [tonight]. I am happy with the reaction, not with the situation, not with the start of the game, that’s what we have to work on. But I am happy with the reaction. So, I am fine, we will work on it and then we will see where it leads us to.

On Coutinho’s display at Selhurst Park…

What can I say? Phil is a good football player, everybody knew that before, I think. For him, he is now 24, his work-rate is outstanding and that’s important for the team. You cannot change this because you cannot be a genius every day, but then you have to be kind of a proper football player still. All good. That’s how the boys are. With 10 it would have been difficult, so I was happy with all of the players on the pitch.

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