What Jurgen Klopp said in the Liverpool dressing room at half-time against Nottingham Forest
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp explains how the 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest came about
Jurgen Klopp has revealed what he demanded of his Liverpool side in the dressing room at half-time as they recorded a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The Reds twice took the lead thanks to a brace from Diogo Jota, before Mohamed Salah secured three valuable points. However, the game was goalless at half-time before the second-half goal feast.
Liverpool are now unbeaten in four games and the victory takes them to seventh place in the Premier League, while the gap in the Champions League has narrowed, at least temporarily, to just six points.
Klopp admitted the Reds had no choice but to make changes in an effort to get back into shape. Things have changed. Some things have changed. It’s a strange thing to say after a game like that because we didn’t have to defend much, but the main difference between Leeds and all the other games is the way we defended ourselves,” he told reporters. “It was much better. Keeping the ball, being compact, which means not only high line, but moving the ball side, giving options.
I have seen many moments of back pressure up, up, up. I loved it. This is extremely important to us. Yes, that has changed. I think we’re much clearer again on that front. “We have to prove it again (against West Ham). It seems that has changed, at least for us. If you’re solid, and not just solid, but really good and aggressive and positive defensively, then you can build on that.
“For me, it’s like it’s the first time this season that we’ve had it. It’s late, but hopefully not too late. We have to build on that now. Of course, the most important thing in football is our results and getting through this situation today and getting three points.
“Just look in the locker room. The guys aren’t stupid, they know we weren’t perfect, but they’re really happy about it. Three very important points. “I told the lads at half-time that we’ve played games like this hundreds of times where it’s really hard to get through. You have to be patient, stay positive and go for the moment.
I asked if anyone would be happy if he won the match 1-0 and of course he would. This means that we fight, work and play for this moment when we can decide it.
“In the end we needed three, but that’s okay. Yes, I think things have changed. But for consistency and to show consistency, we have to move forward.