Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has praised the performance of his side in their win against Nottingham Forest as one of the most complete performances they have had in the ongoing season.
The German tactician left nothing to chance, starting his best team against the Tricky Trees who have built a reputation for stunning the big clubs since they returned to the Premier League last season. Goals from Diogo Jota, Darwin Nuñez and Mohamed Salah buried the visitors. Incredible performances from new midfield signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister added gloss to the scoreline and Klopp lauded the whole team for a domineering show over the weekend.
“Yeah, I told the boys after the game the best thing you can say after a game like this [is] that we played really good and there’s so much space for improvement,” he said. “Still, that’s obvious as well, the goals were fantastic, the patience we showed, the fluidity in a lot of moments on the ball, a lot of moments, the creative, the togetherness in how we connected with each other was really good, the goals we scored, I’m not sure, 70, or something, per cent possession, didn’t look at it, but the first goal was a counter-attack.
“So, yeah, good, absolutely good game and the question will come anyway, so I can give the answer immediately, the preparation was the most difficult I ever had in my life. Didn’t expect that, was not prepared for it, I don’t want to make the game bigger than it was, but it was definitely.”
Asked what his side needs to improve on, he said: “The boys showed wonderful signs in all aspects, all aspects really, but that’s something we now have to learn again,” he began. “The key positions are obviously occupied by different players than at that time, pretty much everywhere – up front, midfield, last line. If you want it’s Virg, Trent, Mo and Ali – so four players and all the rest around are slightly different. That’s where there is space for improvement.
“Creating without losing the compactness is pretty much the idea behind it. If you have to chase a game, it’s obviously a completely different task. If it’s an open game then it’s a different task, but if you are really in control then why should you not stay in control?
“One-on-one situation… we won the situation but then it was a corner or a throw-in, which is by the way pretty much the same for Nottingham Forest, and these are the moments where we have to improve, clearly.
“In creative things, you always can improve. That is always possible because the boys have a lot of potential so we have to use it fully.”
