Jürgen Klopp spoke to the media following Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League tie defeat to Inter Milan, explaining that he wasn’t happy with a key aspect of the Reds’ game.
On the night, Lautaro Martinez shocked Alisson Becker with a bolt from the blue after the Argentine wasn’t given the proper respect by Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman didn’t close him down properly and his nonchalant defending allowed the in-form Inter forward to smash the ball home from all of 25-yards to give his side hope.
Alexis Sanchez, however, snatched that away minutes later lunging in on Fabinho to earn himself a second booking and a red card. He was actually lucky to escape a straight red for an awful tackle on Thiago earlier in the game which he was only booked for.
The second leg ended 1-0 but Liverpool have progressed to the quarterfinals with a 2-1 aggregate lead.
Speaking after the game, Klopp told reporters that he wasn’t happy with how Inter were able to find space and said he thinks there is room for improvement as far as Liverpool’s counter-pressing is concerned.
He said: “The first 20mins I didn’t like too much our counter-press. The game was more exciting than we wanted.
“The art of football is to lose the right games. I still hate it but if there’s any game we could afford to lose then it was tonight.
“I am not over the moon but I’m happy we are through.”
I hate to be that guy but I’m pretty annoyed that Liverpool lost as it ruins the 13-game unbeaten run the Reds were on in all competitions and while Klopp’s side beat Leeds 4-0 in the Premier League, the fireworks haven’t exactly been flying in recent results.
Liverpool need to return to winning ways when they face Brighton in the Premier League this weekend and it’s a chance for the Reds to exorcise their demons from earlier this season when they gave up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with the Seagulls.
It’s a tricky away trip to the Amex even if Graham Potter’s men have lost four out of the last five games they’ve played.
