Jürgen Klopp on Saints defeat, Karius display and Coutinho comeback
Jürgen Klopp acknowledged Liverpool were not at their best as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, but vowed his side would show a positive reaction in the return meeting at Anfield.
Nathan Redmond's strike after 20 minutes gave the home team a narrow advantage at the halfway point of the tie as the Reds struggled to hit their stride at St Mary's.
Indeed, that deficit could have been greater had it not been for a string of fine saves from Loris Karius, while Redmond also struck the crossbar.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp conceded his side were below par, but insisted they will produce a much-improved performance when the teams go head to head in the second leg at Anfield on January 25 as they aim to secure a berth in the final.
The manager also reflected on Karius' excellent display in goal and the return from injury of Philippe Coutinho when speaking to reporters. Read on for a full transcript of his media briefing…
On his overall assessment of Liverpool's performance…
I tried already in three or four interviews but I cannot make it better with whatever I could say. The start was good - the start was really good. If we played like this for 90 minutes, then it would have been very difficult for Southampton to cope with it. But after, we conceded one goal and obviously the game changed. Even if I would try to explain it, it's not easy because I'm not actually used to a reaction like this from my boys. But we have to accept it, tonight it was not good. We were again dominant second half, all that stuff, they had one or two counter-attacks, that's how it is, it's not a big problem. We had to defend then with passion, which we did, but we had not a lot of chances, maybe Roberto Firmino first half. We had a lot of moments in and around the box where we could have had a chance but we didn't make anything of it and that was the situation. The performance, of course, doesn't feel good, but for the final I would think it's still open. In this moment, two disappointed managers after the game: one because he lost and one because they only won 1-0 and have to go to Anfield afterwards. We will strike back, we will be a different team, a different side, everything will be different at Anfield. So, for us, it's still possible to go to Wembley, and that's the target.
On whether the narrow deficit is a positive to take…
[It is] the only comfort! It's the third best result you can get. If you don't win, you don't draw, then losing 1-0 is the third best result. I don't like it too much but it's still possible. This team always shows a reaction and we have to show a reaction in this cup against Southampton - but it would be cool if we could already show a reaction at the weekend, because we probably need a better performance to get something at Old Trafford.
On Karius' performance...
[He was] good. If we lose 3-0 or 4-0 then it could be much more difficult for the second game so yes, he kept us in the game, that's how it is. That's his job and I'm not too surprised that he was able to do it. But actually, if your goalkeeper has to make saves like this then something else is wrong in the game and that was our problem tonight.
On the note he passed to Daniel Sturridge in the second half...
[It said] new system, 3-5-2 so we could play with wingers and two strikers and Lallana and Coutinho in the half-space. No more information, that's enough. We gave him the paper a little bit too late, when the game was running again and of course that was our mistake. Seven or eight of the players knew immediately, Roberto needed a bit longer but he was close enough to us. It [the note] wasn't about being frustrated.
On the return of Coutinho...
Good, it was nice - the best news from tonight. You could see immediately how important he is. Of course, he's not at 100 per cent but it was important for him to have half an hour, that's really important. He did well and yes, [it is] good.