Tottenham 1-3 Liverpool: Jürgen Klopp's reaction
Jürgen Klopp revelled in Liverpool's performance but confirmed Joel Matip sustained an ankle ligament injury during Thursday's 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
The champions returned to winning ways in impressive fashion in the capital, as goals either side of half-time from Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold were added to by Sadio Mane after Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had pulled one back for Spurs.
Both sides had goals disallowed following VAR reviews - Son Heung-min in the opening minutes for the hosts, and Mohamed Salah soon after Hojbjerg’s strike for the visitors - but the Reds were the dominant force throughout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, one negative on an otherwise positive evening was the withdrawal of Matip at half-time.
Read on for a transcript of Klopp’s post-match press conference…
On what clicked in Liverpool’s performance…
Obviously the decisions in the last moments. We just kept going, we had a big, big chance very early with wonderful play and Sadio in a really good position missed the chance. I think pretty much the next situation, if I’m right, was the goal Tottenham ‘scored’ - that was the moment when you think, ‘Oh, here we go again!’ But then it was offside, it didn’t count, and the boys just played a really good game. This situation in mind like that, the counter-attack when Son ‘scored’, makes it really tricky to keep the ball and pass the ball in the right moment because in a specific moment you have to increase the risk and we did that tonight. We made great runs, scored obviously the first goal in a perfect moment pretty much, scored the goal [and] could go into half-time in the dressing room. We got aware of the struggle of Joel Matip with his ankle, so no chance to play on, so then we tried to tell the boys that it would make sense to do a couple of things again. They did and fought really hard, made a proper, proper fight of it the whole night and I’m really happy about that, and played football. So, good game, deserved win, good.
On whether the injuries to Matip and Fabinho give further cause to sign a defender before the transfer deadline…
You can imagine that we think about everything, of course. We thought the whole time, we think the whole time, it’s about doing the right thing. I’m not picky or whatever… but we need to find the right player. We have players still. Not a lot, to be honest, in the defence line it is incredible what’s happening there, it’s really incredible. But that’s it.
On the factors behind the performance…
It is always a mix and that the boys want to do well, it’s clear; that we as coaches have to tell them what they have to do together in specific moments is clear as well. I am completely happy about the performance and, yes, it’s about the boys. They put a proper shift in. It was a brave performance in a game against a counter-attacking monster, which they are, and that makes it even more special. For tonight, it was really good.
On whether this is a ‘big moment’ for Liverpool…
It was good, it was good. It was necessary as well, to be honest! It was a good moment to show up a little bit. We are still here, so that’s good to know. Now we go home and then we come back in a few hours to play West Ham.
On whether attacking play was worked on in training, and Thiago Alcantara’s display…
Of course we do that, what do you think we are doing? Just running in training or what? Of course we try to help them. Today we played a slightly different position, worked together with Millie and Gini on [the] six really well. That was a proper, proper performance. I know Thiago can be much better than tonight, but it was just an important step for all of us. The situation with Thiago was not easy: he came to Liverpool late, then ill, then injured, then playing immediately in a very decisive position. We thought for tonight it might make sense to play him slightly higher on the pitch.
On what Matip’s injury is…
Ankle ligament.