The Liverpool manager was pleased with the three points and patience his players showed
Where the 1-nil win against Leicester on Boxing Day was on the back of industry as much as quality, the victory at Sunderland last night was definitely the result of industry alone, as the Reds toiled to the three points showing only flashes of their quality.
In the North east Klopp’s men made hard working of dispatching a very poor Sunderland side and only managed the win courtesy of a Christian Benteke striker just moments in to the second half.
But Jurgen believes that his players earned their win via hard work and being patient, as Sam Allardyce’s team proved a typically difficult nit to crack.
Speaking following the match (via Liverpoolfc.com), Klopp said: “It’s better if you decide the game early and things like this but we are not in wonderland. We had to wait for the special moment and work for it, and that’s what we did.
“We took the right information from the first half to try to do better in the second half. We started with better pressing in different situations.
“It’s always the biggest challenge in a game where the first thing to do is fight for second balls, to find the right moment for creative football and in defence for pressing. That’s not too easy.
“In the first half, obviously we had a lot of possession, no real chance or opportunity for Sunderland. They had some set-plays and one counter-attack, I think, but it was a big challenge for us.
“After half-time we forced this goal and could have scored the second one and the decision would have been made, but we didn’t. So we had to stay concentrated until the end. We were and it was a deserved win.”
Much like Leicester, Sunderland never really threatened the Reds goal apart from a few half chances but unlike the Boxing Day win at Anfield Liverpool managed to make things difficult for themselves late on and Klopp will be keen to ensure the Reds build on the 6 points gained over Christmas.
With West Ham up next on 2nd January, the pressure will be cranked up as Liverpool look to press on and gain some ground on the team’s above them.
