ReactionPress conference: Jürgen Klopp's verdict on Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
Jürgen Klopp was pleased by the manner of Liverpool’s response to an early concession as they played out a compelling 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
The Reds were behind after four minutes of Saturday evening’s Premier League tussle, with Gabriel heading in at the Kop end from a set-piece.
But Mohamed Salah soon equalised with an emphatic finish – created by a Trent Alexander-Arnold assist Klopp hailed as one of the finest passes he has ever seen.
Liverpool had the better of the second half at Anfield, with substitute Joe Gomez a whisker away with a curler before Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar at the end of a rapid counter-attack.
The result leaves the Gunners top of the table, a point ahead of Klopp’s men in second.
Assessing the game at his post-match press conference, the Reds boss was asked what it says about the strength of the title credentials of both sides.
“I saw top teams, that’s what I saw,” he said. “What does that say about City, Tottenham, Aston Villa? Nothing. They are top teams as well, and others as well who maybe have a little bit less points but are there as well.
“I just saw two really good football teams, a really good game, super-intense. Top, top, top moments for us; could have won, maybe should have won. In all the interviews I had so far, I forgot completely Trent’s [shot off the] crossbar. That’s why I said, ‘I’m not sure, they could have [won]’ but with that chance we should have won the game. I only realised that when I had the radio interview.
“Besides that, they had the better start, we came super back in the game. Anfield was outstanding tonight, I think everybody felt it. It was brutal. It was really nice to see what we can do all together.
“The reaction to the 1-0 was fantastic. We were super-intense, nearly too intense; we tried massively to influence from outside that we have to calm down in moments, that we have to mix it up a little bit better. That’s what we did, created really good moments with that.
“Scored a wonderful goal; maybe the best pass I saw in my life. I saw a few.
“Second half, we started extremely well. I’m not sure if it’s directly from the first second but we had them where we wanted to have them, our high press was absolutely exceptional, they lost it there a little bit. And we should have created better chances with the high ball wins we had there, that’s definitely something we should improve if we have similar situations again.
“Then we had that massive chance from Trent, and then we were not that much in control anymore and that’s obviously the moment when they are directly back again in the game.
“They are really good and really physically strong, I have to say, in all positions, wow. It’s a good football team. Thank God, we are as well, that’s why it’s 1-1.”