Klopp wants Liverpool perseverance after Saints defeat

Shane Long’s late strike ensured Southampton head to Wembley for the EFL Cup final at Liverpool’s expense and despite Jurgen Klopp’s side dominating possession, the German has laid no blame on Saints’ counter-attacking tactics.

Southampton managed just 27 per cent possession at Anfield, but with Klopp’s men unable to break them down, the stage was set for Long to fire Claude Puel’s team to a first major final since 2003.

Klopp, instead of bemoaning the defensive outlook of Puel’s team, actually suggested they might sit higher in the Premier League if they used that style more often while urging his Reds to keep faith and continue trying to break teams down.

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

“We don’t have to think about this, it’s the most difficult thing in football but we are not the only team who has to accept this. We are a good football-playing side,” Klopp explained.

“Southampton usually play completely differently. If they always played like this they would probably have a few points more because their counter-attacking was really good, and defending with a little bit of luck.

“Creating chances against a team like this, that’s really not easy but we did it so that’s good, and then you have to score. That’s all. It didn’t happen.

“We are not the only team in the world that has to do this. Not every team is playing like this [against Liverpool] but quite a lot, we spoke about it – 70, 80 per cent of the games are like this, we knew it before so it’s not a problem. But we still adapt to it, 100 per cent.”