The Liverpool right back in action against Kazan
A 1-1 result at Anfield is far from a great result, particularly against a Rubin Kazan side that was down to ten men for most of the match.
But there were positives to take from the game. The players worked hard again, there was plenty of pressing and, when up against ten men, Liverpool pressed the away side to within an inch of a 2-1 win.
These are all things we’d not seen much since the start of last season. However, one thing still remains: a worrying lack of clinical finishing in the opposition area.
And the Liverpool manager agrees that things could’ve been better but could also have been much worse.
Speaking at his post-match press conference (via Liverpoolfc.com) Klopp said: “It wasn’t a boring game. It was a very interesting game, a big challenge because of the quality of Rubin Kazan.
“Everybody could see they are not too bad – very experienced, very cool when they got the ball. They didn’t have it too often but when they had the ball they were really good.
“They got the first goal and that’s one of the biggest challenges in football. You are in a good moment, your direction is OK, you’re in the game, your concentration is high and you’re playing football and you have this. You need to restart in the game but we did it well and made our goal.
“Before that they got the red card. Sometimes it’s a big advantage against 10; most of the time it’s a really thankless job because now they stop playing football. Now they defend in a big, compact block.
“That’s what we had to do better tonight, but we had our moments, we hit the post with Christian. We had some other moments – good chances – but at the end, no goal.
“So I would say 98 per cent OK, not perfect, but the last two per cent – the decisive per cent – we missed. That was the problem this evening.
“Sion won their game so they are away [at the top of the group], maybe away. We have a situation that we can come back but of course the next game in cold Kazan is the next challenge.
“Tonight wasn’t a masterclass but it’s not the worst day in my life. In the next game we have to work hard – that’s what we did tonight – and we’ll go on like that.”
There were a few good performances again last night with the likes of Sakho, Lallana, Lucas and Can impressing, which will give Jurgen something to build on going into the next match on Sunday at home to Southampton.
The fans will also be expected to do their part as the season goes on, and after a much improved atmosphere at Anfield last night Klopp is hoping for more of the same on Sunday.
He continued: “I’m here as the manager of a football club, one of the best in the world, and now we have to develop our game so that our supporters can enjoy our game a little bit more in the future.
“I think tonight, they [the fans] had moments they could enjoy, moments where the players brought their whole heart on the pitch – that’s what everybody wants. It was not boring, I don’t think anybody wanted to go early.
“We tried it all and in the end we didn’t win. But maybe it’s not the most world-changing game you’ve ever seen.”
