KLOPP’S HALFTIME TALK
INSPIRES LIVERPOOL TO SCORE COMEBACK WIN
Jurgen Klopp has revealed how his half-time call for more of the same from Liverpool helped inspire a comefrom-behind 2-1 win over Tottenham.
The Reds fell behind after just 48 seconds at Anfield as Harry Kane netted a brilliant stooping header after a Heung-min Son effort was deflected into his path by the post. The hosts produced a strong response, forcing Paulo Gazzaniga into a string of fine saves as they dominated proceedings from the second minute onward, but they could not level things up before the halftime break.
As such, Klopp had nothing to criticise his players for when they entered the dressing room at the interval, and simply requested they patiently stick to a plan that was clearly working.
“An early goal is obviously not the best thing that can happen, but sometimes it makes one thing clear: game on,” he said. “That’s exactly what we expected Tottenham to do, being very compact, being very aggressive, chasing us.
“We lost that ball in midfield, they had a counter-attack and that’s it.
“It was bit unlucky for us because Ali made first a save and then Harry [Kane] was there. So, I am pleased, but I expect it as well.
“The game I loved, a super game. It was just how football should look, how you should play against a really strong, good, organised side with the threat constantly in your mind that each ball you lose will possibly end up in front of your own goal.
“The counter-press was exceptional, it was kind of back.
“That was the plan today – we wanted to be really strong, especially in that department, because it was clear we probably might be dominant but that means you lose balls.
“You cannot finish each situation off and then the counter-press must be there. I loved that, that was really, really good.
“I told the boys at half-time, the only problem in this game so far is the result – apart from that, it’s good.”