Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Jürgen Klopp's reaction
Jürgen Klopp admitted he 'couldn't feel better' after watching Liverpool produce a dramatic 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Wednesday evening.
Roberto Firmino's 90th-minute winner from an Andy Robertson corner put the Reds three points clear of Spurs at the top of the Premier League.
Klopp's men had taken the lead in the 26th minute of the contest through Mohamed Salah's deflected strike before the visitors quickly drew level with a Son Heung-Min finish from a counter-attack.
Read on for a full transcript of the boss' post-match press conference...
On his feelings after the game...
Tough period, really tough period. We went already through and playing then a game like this tonight is absolutely exceptional. Top game, deserved the three points against a top side, organisation-wise so difficult to play against them with the counter-attacking threat they have. So, I liked the game a lot.
On Rhys Williams' performance...
Rhys couldn't defend them alone but he had a big part in it, so he did a really good job. It's really nice for him. It was obviously a late decision because we didn't know exactly what will happen with Joel [Matip] and stuff like this, 'Will he be fine or not?' He did really well and that's massively important for us.
On what makes his side keep going until the end and come up with these late moments...
It didn't happen too many times now in this season – the late moments in the game. I have no problem with starting it again, scoring late if needed. But I really think we deserved the three points tonight. Of course Tottenham had chances, I know that they scored a goal and an unbelievably tight offside decision – we are really not lucky with these moments in the moment. They had other chances. We cannot defend Harry Kane [for] 90 minutes. Son, Bergwijn – the speed they have is incredible. But around these moments we were completely in charge of the game, which is important, stay concentrated, protected our attacks sensationally well, counter-press was good, passing was good. Of course, not all our efforts lead to a proper chance because they are deep in the box and defend all the high balls. So we need to be creative and the boys were creative and they stayed. And if not, then force it. The first goal we forced a little bit and the second with a set-piece is really nice. We don't have a lot of time to work on things but we always take the time to do at least the set-pieces properly and that worked out again.
On what this victory can do for the squad's confidence...
I don't think we struggle with confidence, we just don't think about it. We are a good football team but we are in a difficult situation, everybody knows that – we don't have to make a story of it or whatever. For all of us it's difficult. But then throwing a performance like this on the pitch is pretty special, it's pretty special. Yeah, it gives us confidence but in 60-something hours we play again. So we have to be ready again for Crystal Palace and we try obviously. But for tonight, in this moment, I couldn't feel better. After the press conference, I start thinking about Crystal Palace.
On what Firmino's winning goal will do for his belief going forward...
I just hope that he never doubts himself – actually in training it doesn't look like [it]. But there's always so much talk and it always feels like people are surprised, 'Oh, Bobby scored.' He scores goals, important ones for us. For us, it's not so much about who scores them because for us it's only important the ball is in the back of the net. The way how we get there, there are a few obvious things – like passing the ball, crossing the ball and finishing it off – but making the runs to open the gaps for all these things, people don't see that and I understand that. I'm not surprised Bobby scores goals. I'm really happy that he scored tonight – one because it was very important for us and for him as well, but more for us. So let's keep going.
On whether the win felt like some of the dramatic victories of last season…
Yeah, a little bit, [but] I'm now not too much in the last season anymore, to be honest. I can understand that people might think it was a little bit similar to last season. First and foremost, it was one of the best performances in a while. We had a few good games – Wolves was one-and-a-half weeks ago, 10 days ago, and was a top game. We play quite good football from time to time and that's why we have the amount of points we have. We don't compare it with last season, but it was the performance we needed tonight for a massive three points.