ReactionJürgen Klopp press conference: 'I really like the way the boys played'
Jürgen Klopp was delighted with Liverpool's performance level and hunger in the 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.
Goals from Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo and Harvey Elliott had the Reds 4-0 up inside the opening hour of the Premier League contest.
Richarlison and Son Heung-min gave Spurs hope of salvaging something late on but Klopp's men survived the scare to retain the three points and return to winning ways.
Read on for a summary of the boss' post-match press conference…
- Read our match report from Anfield here
On the game and a nervy finish...
Did I expect us to be 4-0 up? No. Did I expect us to be at 4-2 and Ali [Alisson Becker] has to make two more worldie saves? No. But when you think about it, it's really not unlikely because before the game Aston Villa lost and it means for Tottenham, if they win, they are fully back in the fight for the Champions League. For us, it means we are third – we cannot change that probably anymore in either direction. We spoke before the game about it that for high-performance sports, you need to be motivated. Actually, three points should be enough but it's not always. For the boys, it was today, I loved that.
But then you are 4-0 up, play a really good game and we lost a bit of organisation – that's now human, it's not great but it's human. What you saw as well, Tottenham are Tottenham, they are really good and when you let them [play] then they are especially good, so that's what happened. That's why you try so hard to keep the momentum because when you lose it, it then not only means you lost it, it means probably the other team has it and that can lead to really strange situations. We were outstanding until we were not good, until we were alright again and then in that moment then we could obviously score the fifth and sixth, didn't do that but that's all fine.
I really like the way the boys played, I liked the individual performances, how we played together – so many good things today. Yes, conceding two, ask Ali – he is really not happy about that. But it was a really good football game, and I think that's what everybody should expect from us – results as well. We delivered both. And the moments, how I said, I think they are a little bit explainable, should not happen anyway, but didn't count really today.
On Elliott's performance and goal...
Harvey is exceptional. [He is] still so young, so exceptional. He was, for a long time, one of our best players when he played right wing when Mo was injured or at the Africa Cup of Nations. He played exceptional. I think in the midfield position, it was probably [in the] top three or four performances of him today – it was really good and the goal was exceptional. Everybody needs moments to gain even more confidence. He is [in] a good moment, but that helps, definitely. He worked really hard in the other direction as well, he did really well.
The right side, together with Mo – Mo was exceptional today, as well – Harvey and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] can play this role and decide better that he can stay wide as well because we are in the centre, footballing-wise, well set up. So, great game from Harvey, it was exceptional. What a goal. In the game you only see it flying in and think, 'That was a good shot!' That was the goal I saw afterwards, there was not a lot of space to the left and right and it went in exactly where it should be. Top goal.
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