Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Burnley as the best atmosphere at 12.30 that Anfield has seen, while the Reds continued their winning start to the new Premier League season.
Goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane took the three points for the hosts, in a game that dominated largely from off.
There are now 5⃣0⃣ @premierleague goals at Anfield for Sadio? ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/gLGbmMw099
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) 21 August 2021
Klopp was full of praise for his players and supporters who made the occasion so special in their tasks after the match, while he discussed referees in a physical meeting against the Clarets.
But what exactly did the Liverpool boss say? Here are the best bits from the German interview.
Liverpool fans had a good voice / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
“Everyone was really looking forward to this football festival, to this game, and I think no one is leaving this place today with any kind of disappointment because I think all our dreams have come true today, atmospherically.
“It was definitely the best atmosphere we had at 12.30. It was quite special, really special. How the game was also, quite special, because Burnley is Burnley – and Burnley causes you problems. And Burnley caused us problems.
?? pic.twitter.com/UpZYwZifvX
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) 21 August 2021
Klopp praised the partnership between Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip after the match, but warned that they would not be able to play every match – which suggests a lot of rotation throughout the season.
“We are not surprised because they played together, they are both really good footballers and so it is. I can already tell you that because of the things that happened in the last year we desperately needed to bring in the fourth center-half. and now we have sex with Rhys and Nat Phillips.
“We needed it, so they will all play; the first four will definitely play completely. We have to mix it up and we will do it because none of these guys, especially after a long injury, should now play the whole thing. time three games a week.
“We have to find a way to get used to it, but for this match today there was no chance to change anything from last week because you had to get used to each other to face this Burnley team. It’s really special, really specific and very aggressive and as I said with the new idea – let the game flow – it does not make it easier.
“It’s the situation, it was a tough match, an intense match, how it always is against Burnley. We won it, it was not always like this, but sometimes also, so let’s just keep going.”
Back / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Klopp also acknowledged that Van Dijk is still gaining momentum, but praised him for his performance in such a combative and physical match.
“He was safe at times on the edge today, not physically, not in a dangerous way, just the intensity of the game was incredible – especially for the middle halves. You are constantly in the air, the referee whistles absolutely nothing, strikers are in your body.
“It was a real test today and I honestly love football, I love all these challenges, all things like this, yes, but we came from protecting the players a little more to letting the game flow. There is a gray area in between we will surely “Having to adapt again during the season right now does not allow the game to run too meaningfully. We still need to talk about different things.”
Dean was the judge for the clash / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
The German coach was also keen to emphasize that even though he is not “the pope of football”, he feels that players need to be protected more, even if the new message is to “let the game flow”.
“I’m not the pope of football or anything or any kind of priest who wants to tell the people what to do, really not. You may remember that when we started talking about the elbow in the challenge, all of a sudden all the challenges in the air, heard we whistle.
It happened then that the players started to feel something in their face even when nothing touched them because it always helped to do this … now there is a message, like a headline, “let the game flow”.
It started with the penalties, “no soft penalties anymore”, which is perfectly okay. But we can not forget that we must protect the players as well and the challenges in the air … I do not say that they are all foul, for sure not, because most of the time it is a clear challenge but if you do this type of thing all the time.
“There are different ways to play football, obviously it’s good, it was just some tough situations. We’m early in the season and I do not want to open Pandora’s box already, I just think we have to talk about this kind of thing because the season’s intensity did not even begin. “
No better start to the weekend than that. So good to have a full Anfield again? pic.twitter.com/WfwBTfEOtJ
-Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) August 21, 2021
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas caught the eye of the Reds and received help from both sides. It was especially positive for the Greek defender, who stepped in to replace Andy Robertson.
“Both slopes had a good game,” said Klopp. “Both spectacular, if you will, with two fine [assists] Cost with the cross and Trent with the little cheeky curve or whatever for Sadio. It was a good game.
“I think everyone thinks that both defenders played a good game and in this situation it means that they were defensively really good even in a really difficult match from a defensive point of view.”
Elliott impressed at his first start for the Reds / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Another man who impressed was Harvey Elliott. The 18-year-old was robbed of a sublime assist by an offside flag and contributed excellently to his team’s victory. However, Klopp was anxious to remove the spotlight from the teenager.
“Harvey was part of this show. Everyone wants to talk to me about Harvey and I absolutely understand-when an 18-year-old boy plays such a mature game I can understand why everyone asked, but I was not surprised that he played like this .
“That’s exactly how he’s been training now for six or seven weeks since we’re back, because he’s back on loan. Yes, that was good.”
