ReactionJürgen Klopp press conference: Fulham verdict, tactical tweaks, Alexander-Arnold and more
'A game you will never forget' was Jürgen Klopp's assessment after Liverpool's dramatic 4-3 victory over Fulham at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored an 88th-minute goal in front of the Kop to complete a late fightback from the Reds on Sunday.
The visitors had gone 3-2 up with 10 minutes remaining in the Premier League affair through Bobby De Cordova-Reid's header, before Wataru Endo and Alexander-Arnold netted to snatch the three points.
Klopp's men opened the scoring in the encounter when a brilliant free-kick from Alexander-Arnold went in via the crossbar and the back of Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno, which brought about a quick equaliser from Harry Wilson.
A sensational Alexis Mac Allister hit restored Liverpool's lead but they were pegged back again as Kenny Tete's close-range finish had the first half end with the scoreline at 2-2.
Read on for a summary of Klopp's post-match press conference…
On his reaction to the result and the dramatic ending...
The feeling after the game was exceptional, to be honest. During the game, it was slightly different in moments. I told the boys after the game, the game turned out as the game we saw because we were a bit dumb. We were really strong, we start really well, I liked it a lot, scored a goal. I don't actually know, I forgot a little but, timing-wise when [there was] the long break because Bernd Leno had the cut. I have to watch it back. But then we were still playing, but the protection was not that good anymore. We could have won the ball back high up the pitch, didn't, they passed in the centre, they arrived there. They had the counter-attack when they scored the first one – Harry [Wilson] – and then the second, the corner should never happen. We should have defended the corner, but in the first place it should never happen. They get another corner in a similar situation and score again, but this time it was disallowed. That's why I said to the boys at half-time, that this result [2-2] is deserved and it shouldn't be like that.
Coming out [for the second half] and Fulham were obviously now a different opponent because they realised that was the way it goes against us today, but we still had our moments. We were unlucky with Darwin and the crossbar and other situations where we could have scored. Then they scored the 3-2 and that was not not-deserved as well, you have to say that. Football is sometimes like this. They had not 20 chances but they had enough and were pretty clinical. To concede the 3-2 and then obviously the [final] period started. It is now easy to say and we will never find out, but in the end the outcome was perfect but I liked the way we played. We changed system a couple of times and that worked out. It is not always the case, but today it worked out and then it ends up in a high-intense, hectic period we have a completely calm situation – the ball to Mo, Mo to Wata and Wata fires into the far corner, completely free. Before that it was not once the case.
So, 3-3 and then obviously everybody could see the boys wanted more and because we were a bit lucky today we got it. Outstanding experience, I would say. Everybody who was here, I don't think anybody would have thought before the game Liverpool v Fulham will be a game you will never forget in your life. But you're welcome. Whoever was here today will never forget it in their lives.
On the quality of Liverpool's four goals...
I saw a few games, but I never saw a game with this amount of worldies, to be honest. I mean a competitive game. It was really competitive. Trent's free-kick, unbelievable. Macca before the game, you could see his foot is right today. He was really in the shooting… I thought, 'Wow, you should better try it!' – he obviously thought the same. Wataru was just so important; he came on and that was really good, really good. Won decisive challenges, super passing, a top goal. And then Trent makes it a brace. Honestly, for whatever reason, I didn't see that ball go in, I was probably turning in that moment or whatever. I haven't watched it back, but all of them [were] pretty special.
On the tactical tweaks in the second half...
Again, this game for the six when we were not that compact, I didn't like. I didn't like how we defended with the frontline, to be honest, going back. Our defensive press was not outstanding in the first half – that makes it really intense for all midfielders but especially for the six. So we changed position in that moment as well, so we needed the width as well, we needed a wing finally again because that didn't work out too well. It worked out very often very well but there are days where it's not happening. When you see that Mo gets on the ball and in the first half it was really good. Then Dom could unlap and then we arrive there in a very important area. But now we had Joey out there, which really helped, and then we had then obviously two midfielders, the double six – we played with Ryan and Trent next to each other. But Joey in possession first going inside and then with the next change staying wide.
So with all the things you try to do in these moments, if it works out it's because it's tricky for the opponent as well – they get used to different things. Tom Cairney played pretty much man-marking against Trent in moments. So when he was then just in the middle, that's why it was really helpful that we had the wing. I'm not sure how many crosses Joey fired in in the end, a few really good balls, and all of sudden they had to adapt again and that didn't work out for them and that's why we could win the game. In these moments, not that we played like that, it becomes a bit of chess. You just try to change something to improve yourself but to make it a bit more tricky for the opponent as well, and today it worked out.
On Alexander-Arnold...
I'm not sure I have to say anything about that. Nobody is in doubt how highly I think about Trent. He plays here since I'm here pretty much – longer, of course, but with the first team pretty much since I'm here. The development is crazy. His shooting skills we knew before. It's now a while ago, I think, that he scored with a free-kick, so it would not be bad if we could do that better – for that we need fouls around that area, we don't have that a lot. Today he was a real leader on the pitch – that's probably the biggest improvement, if you want. Because it was super-intense but it got kind of another push when you put him a bit more inside in that moment. He's so often in these positions, there is no change really. He's very often in half-spaces in the centre and stuff like this. So it was just really good. But he was a real leader on the pitch – that was most important.
On what the win can do during a busy period...
I tell you on Wednesday, I don't know. Of course it's much better to win a game and go into the next game. It speeds up the recovery but we lost today Joel. We have obviously no pictures yet, no scan yet but after all what you hear and can see, it will not be a short one – unlucky. But we just have to get through this. You have to find always a specific mood and mentality to get into the next game and to go for it and fight in hard moments and stuff like this.
I don't think I ever praised Newcastle before but I saw them playing last night and I was really impressed, I have to say 'wow'. They played the same team, pretty much exactly the same team like in Paris and that was a big fight. Yes, it was not only a big fight, it was exceptional football, it was a commercial for pressing, counter-pressing and direct football, really good football. But it's hard for all of us, for the players and we have to get through this and we have to see if we can or have to make changes and who can play again and these kind of things. Yeah, going in that period, which is tough anyway, with a positive result is better but the real decision how the next game will be will be made at Sheffield.