Jürgen Klopp on Huddersfield win, penalty discussion and deadline day
Jürgen Klopp felt Liverpool were full value for their 3-0 victory against Huddersfield Town and praised the reaction of his players to a difficult week.
The Reds bounced back from the disappointment of consecutive defeats against Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion with an excellent result at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Emre Can and Roberto Firmino established a two-goal advantage by the interval, and Mohamed Salah converted a penalty in the second half to secure three points.
After the final whistle, Klopp reflected on the win, explained how Salah came to take the clinching spot-kick and offered an update on potential business on transfer deadline day.
Read on for a transcript of the manager’s press conference…
Watch: The best of the action against Huddersfield
On whether Liverpool wanted to prove a point…
Of course, that was the reaction we needed to show. Everybody saw it was not brilliant, it was not the best game we played so far, but it was very mature. And, in the end, very deserved. The best thing we did tonight apart from scoring was our counter-pressing and how we defended situations when Huddersfield won the ball deep. It can always get immediately uncomfortable when they play the first pass, second pass and you’re a little bit too late. We had this one or two times because it’s normal. But very often we were really right, and that cuts confidence – you want to do something and you can. They were quite compact and not too easy to play around, but we had a few fantastic situations. Pretty early in the game, Robbo was in behind; Mo Salah pretty much alone; a similar situation for Sadio twice, one time alone with a header. We had more moments than three goals. But it was difficult to play because they defended well. I’m happy about the result, 100 per cent, and most parts of the performance as well.
On senior players ‘setting the tone’ in midfield…
Emre was not brilliant in the last game and played again and was really good tonight and very important. That Millie and Hendo are good and important players for us is not a surprise for me. Tonight, in this system, Gini and Oxlade didn’t start [but are] very important players as well. A little bit of pressure is not bad. If you have to perform to stay on the pitch, it’s no problem. Sometimes we rotate because of physical things, like with Virgil tonight. But usually you do it because of who looks better and who is maybe a little bit sharper tonight. The boys wanted it and it helped that they had this kind of attitude, for sure.
On transfer deadline day and potential departures…
It would be funny if somebody calls about Ingsy – I would love to respond: no chance! We will see what happens but there is no chance that Ingsy is on the market tomorrow… only if I’m unconscious. Maybe something happens. It’s clear who is a little bit [available]. It’s possible but I don’t know in the moment.
On Daniel Sturridge’s loan move to West Brom…
If you want to go to the World Cup, which is obviously Daniel’s ambition, it makes more than sense, that’s clear.
On selecting Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip ahead of Virgil van Dijk…
It’s completely normal. They have played longer together than Virgil has played [with them], and Southampton play a completely different style to us. Plus, the fitness thing. It’s clear that in half a year Virgil will be a completely different player to last week or next week. That’s completely normal. It’s a very important position and very important that it’s really tuned between the parts and stuff like that. This for today was simply a physical thing.
On Huddersfield’s chances of staying in the Premier League…
I would still say it’s very good, but staying in the Premier League is a difficult thing for most of the clubs. I think when somebody thought before the season about Huddersfield and where they will be at the end of January, I’m not sure a lot of people would have thought not in a relegation position. And they are not, they are in a proper situation to fight for the league. It’s not my job to say, but we were here for a friendly game and the crowd was more excited then, happy about playing football – and they were in the Championship when we were here for the friendly. I was at a small club in Mainz and celebrating yourself and the league helps the team, so don’t care about which opponent is there – just go for it. I would love to come here again because we could come on the bus! We did not have to fly, in an hour we were here – so, Huddersfield, stay in the league!
On Jordan Henderson’s importance to Liverpool…
For me, it is quite difficult to talk about the obvious things. Jordan Henderson is a very good footballer; he is an England international player and for us our skipper. He may [even] skipper England, I have no clue. How can he not be a brilliant player when he is a Liverpool player? If somebody doesn’t see his value, what can I do? Do you think after what I’ve said now they will see his value? I am not sure. I am happy he is back, very happy.
On who should have taken Liverpool’s penalty…
I wanted exactly a situation like that, I love when players discuss on the pitch! My fault, I thought it was clear but obviously I left a little bit of space for interpretation. It was not 100 per cent clear obviously, but in the end the most important thing is that the ball went in – and we didn’t have that too often, to be honest! But yippee, now Mo has probably qualified for the next penalty. I thought it was clear, they discussed it, that’s all good. It’s better you have two or three who want to take it than you have nobody who wants to take it. It’s all OK and I think the discussion was OK.