Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has praised his team while throwing a tongue-in-cheek remark at Tottenham Hotspur after their 4 – 3 victory on Sunday in Anfield.
Liverpool continued their charge to participate in European competition next season with a home win over Spurs, who are having manager troubles at the moment. The Reds were 3 – 0 up in 15 minutes against their hosts, who fought back to a 3 – 3 draw in the 93rd minute.
Diogo Jota broke the hearts of the visitors in the 94th minute to restore the lead for the hosts, who moved up to fifth on the table. It was a thoroughly entertaining match but Klopp believes that his team allowed themselves to slip despite their handling of the North Londoners’ defensive set-up by interim manager Ryan Mason.
Speaking after the game, the former Borussia Dortmund manager said: “Yeah, you all saw it – the start into the game was absolutely exceptional again, some of the best we have played this season for sure.
“Being 3-0 up against a pretty defensive set-up of Tottenham and the way we scored the goals, the way we played offensively and defensively was absolutely exceptional. Then the problem, being 3-0 up that early; we are not the first team who misunderstood that. Should not happen, happened anyway.
“Not immediately but the first goal of Tottenham is the first moment where we don’t defend properly, where we are not properly in the counter-pressing situation, like the distances were right or whatever. That’s why we end up with the long ball in behind, there’s no offside and Virgil slips, which obviously can happen – we shouldn’t come into a situation like that.
“They scored their goal, credit to Tottenham, they are brilliant in these situations. Half-time was like that, I told the boys the positive stuff but of course already that we have to just pick up rhythm again because if we play how we started the game they have no way to defend us really.”
Klopp then gave credit to their visitors but emphasised on their defensive set-up as a reason why his side struggled for many parts of the game.
“It’s tricky with the five in the back with our players in between, if we are flexible there, it would have been tricky for them. Unfortunately we couldn’t pick up rhythm properly anymore; it was not bad, it was more an even game than it should have been. But fine, then you should not concede. That was the situation.
“Again, credit to Tottenham, they only need one like these moments.”
