Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits that the last-gasp 2-1 Champions League win over Ajax is just the first step on the way to regaining his form.
Mohamed Salah’s first goal in eight European games was disallowed by Mohammed Kudus in the first half and needed a Joel Matip header in the 89th minute to record Liverpool’s first points in Group A after last week’s defeat by 4-1 in Naples.
It’s been a mixed season so far and, with no games for three weeks (Sunday’s match at Chelsea was postponed due to police problems associated with the Queen’s funeral), Klopp has time to regroup and prepare for his comeback after the international break.
“I think if we put the two games, Napoli and tonight, side by side, you don’t correctly recognize that it’s the same sport,” he said.
“Everything was different. The beginning was different. The medium was different. The ending was different. The way we played, the way we defended, everything was different. Much more intensity, much more aggressive, braver, smarter, everything was better.
“The history of the game is typical, not for our season so far because normally we are down 1-0, more because of the situation we are in.
“We did a lot of good things and we played a really good game, we had something like 25 shots, which is good against a strong team full of confidence, absolutely convinced of their way of playing, and we caused them a lot of problems.
“And then, 1-0 up, you concede with the opponent’s first chance the draw. The reaction was fine, not perfect but yes, and at the break we told the guys that after the goal our pressure was not as convincing as before.
“I think nobody was surprised that it was a set piece (for the winner) because our set pieces were really good tonight and I have no idea why we didn’t score sooner because almost every set piece was a threat. . .
“Joel’s face showed exactly how we all felt at that moment. It is the first step, nothing more, no more”.
Sunday’s postponement, coming on top of the entire postponement of the football calendar last weekend, means Liverpool have two games to fit into an already packed schedule with a World Cup in between.
So Klopp was less than impressed with Chelsea’s new American owner Todd Boehly’s suggestion that the Premier League should introduce an American-style all-star game between teams from the north and south of England.
“He doesn’t expect much. When he finds a date for that, he can call me,” she added.
“In American sports, these players get four-month breaks. Do you want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters too?
“Maybe he can explain that. I’m not sure people want to see that: United players, Liverpool players, City players, Everton players, all together. It’s not the national team. Did he really say it?
Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder admits his side, who scored four goals against Rangers in their first match, have learned some important lessons.
“When the goal happens with a dead ball situation, it’s quite bitter. We have a lot of young players and they can learn a lesson from that,” he said.
“I can live with defeat, of course. I can’t say that he was neglected. Liverpool were the better team tonight, there’s no shame in that, but you have to learn from it.
“We have to see what we can do better. We will see more in depth the intensity, we don’t have that in the Dutch league, it is faster at this level. It’s a learning moment for us.”
