Jürgen Klopp's verdict on Liverpool's defeat at Chelsea

The Reds were defeated in London after Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock with a first-half header.

Depending on results elsewhere over the next seven days, it means they may need to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield next weekend if they’re to secure a top-four finish for a second consecutive season.

Klopp offered his reflections on the contest and where it’s left his side’s ambitions of sealing a return to the Champions League in his post-match press conference. Read on for a transcript of what he had to say…

On his reflection on the game and Liverpool’s performance…

I didn’t think Chelsea looked much fresher than we did. It is an intense period and if you want to be successful the decisions are made in the last part of the season. Yes, of course, there was influence - everything is influenced by the games during the week, that’s normal. I am really proud of the boys to be honest; ‘proud’ is the word because, again, they really invested everything. There is one moment I am really disappointed, not happy, angry with and it was the goal. Clearly, we should not concede another goal like this. It was clear, the plan - cut back, cross, soft cross and Giroud is there. It was clear we had to avoid these situations and it feels like we only had to avoid it once more in the game and then we would have the draw, which would feel completely different. With the rest, I am absolutely fine.

I know what the boys invested. We played football, we had to play, we had to play around them, we were in the half-spaces, we were between the lines, we had opportunities to shoot, we had opportunities to cross, we were in the six-yard box, we were everywhere. Of course, we have played better games this season, but in our situation against Chelsea, who are obviously a world-class team, it’s quite a challenge to do it much better than we did today, so result-wise, a little bit unlucky. I am not shocked or surprised it could happen today and now I am happy that [in] the intense time of the season for us, [there is] time between the games to prepare them properly, it will help us massively. Now we have a final next Sunday, so that’s how life is.

On whether the result means Chelsea have put pressure on Liverpool to finish in the top four…

Chelsea have to win the games as well, right? We play the last game at home, Chelsea plays at Newcastle, so that’s not a holiday trip. What I wanted this morning when I woke up, nice and easy, 3-0 win, going home, enjoying the sun and don’t care for the Brighton game, and prepare already for the final. Did I think it would happen? I was not sure. That’s the situation. How it looks in the moment, hopefully the boys all came through the game they showed again their outstanding character.

On needing to beat Brighton to secure a top-four finish...

That’s my life, always until the last matchday. Middlesbrough were already relegated that day, right? I saw Brighton against [Manchester] United and it doesn’t look like that would be an easy game, they were really good that night. It’s football, if you want guarantees then you have to do something very different. The boys showed me that they are really ready to fight and to fight and to fight. The situation is very intense for the boys and I am really happy and proud of them how they deal with it.

On Sir Alex Ferguson’s illness...

I met Sir Alex after the first leg against Roma, he passed my way together with Gerard Houllier. I had a few words with him and when I heard it yesterday on the way to London I really couldn’t believe it that something like this could happen but it can happen to all of us. He was last night in my prayers 100 per cent and will be tonight, I wish him and his family all the best. He will be in good shape again, I am 100 per cent sure, and [I’m] looking forward to seeing him again.

On the contribution of Dominic Solanke...

It was not too long. If he scores with the header, I would have been really pleased. He is a hard-working boy on a good way so everything will be fine in the future. Today, all strikers didn’t score, that’s how it is, but all good.

On Mohamed Salah’s three-game goalless run...

It happens to all of us. Now he played twice against former teammates. Against Rome, before the game they were very friendly - ‘Hello Mo, how are you?’ hug here, hug there - and in the game [physical]. Yes, it was a dive, or he waited for the contact, that’s not what I want to see or what he wants to do but obviously it happened. But because of that situation he doesn’t get any foul anymore, that’s not right as well. You have to deal with that, he can do much better, he will score again no doubt about that, but today there was not space for nothing. He can play with no space, actually, but not today. That’s it. All good.