PRESS CONFERENCE: find out Jürgen Klopp’s verdict on Brighton 3-0 Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp gave a candid assessment of his side’s performance as Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Reds were well beaten at the Amex Stadium, with the home side scoring three goals in the second half thanks to a Solly March brace and a late goal from Danny Welbeck.
Read on for a recap of what the manager had to say in his post-match press conference.
On Liverpool’s result and performance…

Congratulations to Brighton, they had a great game. I really thought we made it a bit too easy for them, but in general they played very well and we didn’t. We tried to help the guys with a slightly different organization. In fact, I thought it could have worked very well; We had moments when it worked well, when we put the pressure on, but in all the situations where we won the ball, we lost the ball far too easily at that moment. That’s the main problem, so that means we’ll never get this something to work. Brighton were better for the full 90 minutes but it was 0-0 at half time so we can’t play a good half either. We kind of have a result and we’ll go from there, but of course the second half started with the worst possible start. With the 0-1 deficit and the game, it was already clear that a team is ready to play a very good game and a team is having a hard time getting things done. It’s the worst possible start and everyone has seen it. The issues are the same as when we were talking about it last week: we are winning the crucial battles on the pitch, we are not winning the crucial challenges and we are giving the ball away too easily. It is difficult to organize the protection of lost balls which should not be lost, it is not easy. Full responsibility because I had an idea with another formation and it didn’t work. So I’m sorry.
If he felt that the team understood the messages sent to them before the game…

The week seemed like everyone understood what I said to be honest. Putting him on the pitch then is probably… They’re playing a team full of confidence and joy and stuff like that and we also need key moments where we get the ball over the line. I think we had chances to make it 2-1 if I’m right. We had those moments, but there wasn’t a moment in the game where we were able to get a little boost and go from there. Then comes the doubt and it’s awful to watch, to be honest. I think anyone wearing a Brighton shirt or a Brighton heart really enjoyed the match and I don’t think anyone with a Liverpool heart enjoyed it for a second. I think the players were listening, I’m pretty sure, but I know where you’re from and I also see that it didn’t feel like it, but it is.
Speaking of going to the Liverpool fans after the match…

I think they were outstanding, to be honest. They realized it wasn’t our day and still proved to be true supporters. How can you really say thank you or thank you, but that was my way of doing it.

About making four substitutions at once and if he made that many at once…
We can’t change four for that long – so probably not. We couldn’t [a few months ago]. But three at a time, I definitely did. Only fresh legs, don’t get hurt. We had these situations today, you saw it, we’re a team that doesn’t usually foul like hard or anything… we got yellow cards and you could see [the] frustration involved and the two yellow cards, [so] don’t get worse the stuff with hot flashes and stuff like that. It was clear, it makes absolutely no sense to talk about it, but it really would have been necessary to play real football. Play with a man marking system, we have to move, we have to play, we have to pass the ball and stuff like that. So we have football players there, so we said, ‘Come on, put on new legs’ and let’s play a bit.’ In the end today it didn’t work. But I think during the little football moments everyone could always see how close we were to causing more trouble than we did. There was a situation in the first half, two or three passes: the central defender defends with a big toe, if you like, [and] if he doesn’t reach the ball, then Cody is just in front of goal. So we didn’t have it. I don’t expect anyone to remember the good situations in our game. To his players who are “not competing” as he intends to be…

Sure, that’s something I don’t like, but it’s not like I’m like, “Oh, you don’t win challenges.” My job is to frame the situation so that guys find themselves in a situation where they might have challenges. . Yeah sure, so last week I said I couldn’t win a challenge for them, that’s true, but it’s my job to make sure they come at the right time. It’s my job to get the line-up right, all of those things; implement the right tactic. I don’t know if it’s still because the game was just a few minutes ago, but I can’t remember a worse game. Honestly I can’t, and I mean everyone, not just Liverpool, I can’t remember and it’s my responsibility. This makes it a real low point at the moment. [It’s clear.