ReactionJürgen Klopp's press conference: Bournemouth win, Nunez's goal, Quansah and more
'Super' was the word Jürgen Klopp used to describe Liverpool's desire after they beat AFC Bournemouth 2-1 on Wednesday night to progress in the Carabao Cup.
A stunning curler from second-half substitute Darwin Nunez decided the fourth-round tie at Vitality Stadium after Justin Kluivert had cancelled out the opening goal from Cody Gakpo on the half-hour mark.
It set up a home encounter with West Ham United in the quarter-finals of the competition next month.
Read on for a transcript of Klopp's post-match press conference…
On Liverpool's performance in the stormy weather conditions...
It's a top, top, top cup game. It's all about winning, it's all about getting through. There were good things today, I don't have to speak about the circumstances [because] you saw it yourselves. It was really difficult for both teams. First half we could have scored more goals, we didn't. Second half obviously we realised it would have been a good idea to have scored more goals [in the first half] because the wind changed the game again in the second half. We scored our second goal, a wonderful goal and then we fought extremely hard, we had good moments but it is all about attitude in these moments. Both teams wanted it, everybody can expect that from the home team, but I saw my team as well – how hard we really wanted it and I am really happy about that. It was a top cup game in strange, strange circumstances.
On Jarell Quansah's display...
That's the other thing which was obvious: that he was really good. In these circumstances, wow. So many difficult balls to judge, to estimate, where is it coming down? He did really well. On the ball, Caoimhin [Kelleher] thought give him the ball quite a lot and let's see what he can do. He did really well there. Yes, top game, absolutely.
On how pleasing it was to 'get through the game' given the conditions...
It's super, it's just super. So we knew it, we have to talk about the weather because of how we can travel already since three, four days. But it was clear [there] will be a storm, wind will come. So you know it but it's really different to then play football in it. Again, the boys took it completely.
It was a difficult game. Bournemouth did really well – they had their moments. In life, in football, from time to time you need luck and tonight, for sure, in one or two moments Bournemouth could have finished the situations a little bit better but it's an inch on the foot and not more. Then Darwin shows his class and put the game pretty much to bed for us. It's an unbelievable goal. We had much bigger chances in the whole game – like five, six, seven – but that was the goal we needed. He did it. Everybody was really working extremely hard and that's what you want. And now we drive home, long trip but we would have had to do that anyway. But with going to the next round, it feels much better.
On whether Nunez used the wind to help assist the goal...
If you can do that, that's really good. You have a look where is it going – that would be outstanding. You'd have to ask him, I didn't. I just enjoyed the goal.