Klopp Talk: We Controlled It for an Hour

Mixed day for Liverpool

The derby nobody wanted proved to be a game nobody enjoyed, as Liverpool perhaps shaded it but lacked the quality in the final third to put Everton away, and ended up hanging on late in the game. While the outcome was not ideal, it’s hard to feel too aggrieved at the result from what was a poor quality game.

Jürgen Klopp did not seem to be too unhappy after the game.

“I think we controlled it for sixty to seventy minutes”, the Liverpool manager told Sky Sports after the final whistle. After that point, he felt everyone got “a little bit emotional”, though he “would’ve expected that”. Echoing similar comments he made about the performance in the second half against Manchester City, Klopp criticised his team’s lack of control in the later stages of the match, saying that “in that moment we have to carry on and play football”.

“Of course when we played football we controlled the game, we had plenty of chances but we had a few changes in the game”. He did seem to be forgiving of his side’s deficiencies late on, saying that “I have no problem with that. We had a big chance in the first half but of course at the end, the two crosses, maybe three crosses was close [to Liverpool conceding]”.

“I’m completely fine with the result of course, again clean sheet, good defending, but [in the] last twenty minutes or so, when they have the ball, you need to play, and that’s what we didn’t do”.

“We’re here for getting a result, so we have a result. It’s not our “1A” solution, but it’s “1B”, we take that, it’s no problem... but it’s good, atmosphere was good. I like it intense, not too aggressive, really good.

“Nice place to come”.

Amusing dig at Everton’s attempts to create an intimidating atmosphere aside, this was a largely diplomatic view from Jürgen Klopp. It is obvious to everyone that the priority was always going to be on the second leg of the Champions League tie against Manchester City, and while a Chelsea win this weekend could now bring them two points closer to us, the computer says we’re fine.

Time to prepare for Tuesday, then.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com