Jurgen Klopp needs Liverpool to push on from a managed Champions League victory in opposition to Rangers that started with the extensively scrutinised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s beautiful free-kick.
Having been held to a irritating 3-3 draw within the Premier League by Brighton on Saturday, the Reds returned to Anfield on Tuesday searching for a return to profitable methods in opposition to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s males.
Liverpool responded with a 2-0 victory in opposition to Rangers that was extra complete than the scoreline suggests, with Alexander-Arnold’s wonderful effort complemented by a Mohamed Salah spot-kick.
The hole would have been wider had it not been for Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor’s wonderful efficiency on an evening when the hosts efficiently switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
“Good recreation, actioned the sport we needed to play,” Liverpool boss Klopp mentioned.
“A very good defensive efficiency in a brand new construction, offensively created an terrible lot. The Rangers goalie had some very nice saves and we missed another [chances] however I appreciated it rather a lot.
“The 2 objectives we scored had been very nice. OK, one is a penalty however the transfer from Lucho for the pen was actually good. We performed good in these areas.
“The free-kick from Trent was excellent and set-piece objectives are literally my favorite objectives since you don’t have to attend for VAR. You simply can have fun them.
“So, in the long run I feel Rangers got here up a bit of bit however solely put us in a single state of affairs, actually, the place Ali needed to make a save. However from that, I appreciated the sport rather a lot.
“No frustration [about not scoring more] in any respect. I actually didn’t need to sit right here now and discuss 4-0 or no matter – 2-0 is prime, provides us three factors. Let’s preserve going.”
Liverpool are second in Group A after following the embarrassing 4-1 defeat to Napoli with back-to-back house wins in opposition to Ajax and Rangers.
Now the Reds will look to get again on monitor within the Premier League, the place a below-par begin to the marketing campaign means they’re 11 factors behind Premier League leaders Arsenal forward of their journey to north London on Sunday.
“The criticism is totally nice,” Klopp mentioned. “We aren’t over the moon about our state of affairs, let me say it like this.
“I don’t assume [criticism] had an excessive amount of to do with the state of affairs. It was the sport that gave us this job to do.
“However I noticed tonight a crew absolutely dedicated. That’s what I like rather a lot and that’s what we’ve to do.”
Klopp joked he has been unable to learn newspapers for a number of weeks because of the criticism – an strategy England supervisor Gareth Southgate could have taken throughout the current worldwide break.
The Three Lions boss’ resolution to omit Alexander-Arnold from the matchday squad in opposition to Germany brought on consternation and the right-back might be within the highlight with each Liverpool efficiency earlier than the World Cup.
“He performed a very good recreation, defensively particularly,” Klopp mentioned. “Great purpose.
“We set it up in another way. We can’t discuss that each week however Trent has no defensive downside. We had a defensive downside – hopefully ‘had’.”
Whereas Liverpool are effectively positioned to progress, Rangers have but to place a degree on the board in Group A on the midway level.
Van Bronckhorst’s Gers welcome the Reds to Ibrox subsequent Wednesday and the Dutchman hopes his facet be taught from Tuesday’s Anfield defeat.
“We’re competing in opposition to among the finest sides in Europe so the hole is there,” he mentioned.
“That doesn’t imply you need to lose the sport.
“I feel we competed very well as a result of it’s a powerful crew, set-pieces we defended very well, which may be very exhausting as a result of they take it very well. They’ve good headers.
“We are going to be taught from this recreation. My crew will be taught from this recreation, my gamers personally and we must always take the expertise into the following recreation and in addition into the league efficiency.”
