Klopp: “We Caused Ourselves Problems” But Winning Is Crucial

Klopp discusses winning tough away games and how that helps build the team’s character.

Liverpool have won their first four games of the season leading into the interminable September international break. The last game against Leicester City ended up being a bit close for comfort, with new goalkeeper Alisson letting Leicester back into the game when he mishandled the ball and gave away possession.

Earning three points is the goal, though, and playing away from home is never easy. This is something that manager Jürgen Klopp understands after his nearly four seasons at Liverpool.

“To build a team over a season you need, in an ideal world, these common experiences. In an ideal world, with getting three points in a difficult game,” Klopp told the official site post-match.

“If you are flying constantly, you are not prepared for the difficult moments - you cannot be prepared - so we are. We know that and I told the boys immediately after the game in the dressing room that if winning away games in the Premier League would be so easy, then everybody would do it constantly.

“It’s difficult, it’s really difficult, and to do it in the way we did it - yes, we caused ourselves problems, yes, we could’ve done better, but in the moments we did what we actually wanted to do, we were really strong.

“In the moment, we are obviously not stable enough to do it over 90 minutes, but that’s what we are working for and that’s what we want to do, of course, so it’s all fine.

“You can always make a criticism, like a detail here or there, but then at the end if you do that and you could change all these things then it’s 8-0 or something. That’s not how life is, that’s not how football is. 2-1, fantastic result.”

And, of course, conceding only one goal in four matches is a fantastic result. The only hope is that all the Reds’ players going out around the globe to play for their countries return back healthy and ready to pick up where they left off. The next match is the early kick-off on September 15th. It’s a big game against Spurs, who have looked excellent this season, despite a disappointing loss against Watford on Sunday.

The first games, while tricky in their own rights, were against relatively easy competition. It will be fascinating to see how this team does against another top six contender.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com