A pleased Jürgen Klopp met with the media after Liverpool's big win over Wolves Wednesday night at Anfield. The boss discussed the team's response after a disallowed Darwin Núñez goal, the performance of Virgil van Dijk and how he hopes to carry the momentum to the Manchester United match.
When Darwin Núñez's goal was disallowed after a VAR check in the 66th minute, that seemed to spur the Reds on to better play and the crowd to fuller volume. Klopp agrees.
“Second half, around the disallowed goal, already we had increased the pressure and these kind of things,” he said. The direction was good, a couple of really good situations. I think you all saw the [disallowed] goal now a couple of times back and when you see it in slow-motion you see the contact then, but I still think it was a goal, but that's not important anymore. Especially, players don't have a replay and for them it's a clear goal of course. Then you have to react. I was not worried but of course then you watch it, how the boys react – and the reaction was really good.”
Oftentimes, standing at 6'5, Virgil van Dijk is the tallest player on the pitch. He used all of that height to get his head on the game-winner in the 73rd minute, but the goal is far from the only thing that stood out to Klopp about the defender's performance in the match.
“Yeah, we all need that and he (van Dijk) needs that as well and it's obviously a really good one, in a tough game for defenders,” Klopp said. “I thought we performed tonight, we played a really good game in general. But I really think the centre-halves and Fabinho together, how they covered that area, how they denied the counter-attacks, how they defended into midfield, which is very important against a team who play with one striker.”
Like most fans, Klopp is already turning his attention to the big match Sunday, March 5th vs United. He gave the media some early thoughts on the fixture.
“ I think Man United is the team in form in the moment, maybe together with Arsenal and City are [also] doing well,” Klopp said. “The teams up there are all in a pretty good moment and I didn't see yet the line-up [for United's Emirates FA Cup game with West Ham United] but maybe they changed quite a few? That means some of them will be a bit fresher than us, but it's a home game and it's Anfield. I thought Anfield proved a point tonight again, it was super, super-enjoyable. It felt like a proper unit, we were all together – I loved that. That's what we need again on Sunday, but of course it will be difficult.”
Jürgen Klopp did not say anything earth-shattering in his press conference that lasted just over four minutes, but he really did not have to. He praised the team's response to the disallowed goal, van Dijk's (and the entire team's) performance, and gave a sneak peek.
When Liverpool win, Klopp can keep his pressers short, sweet and simple and not have to answer tough questions about why the team is struggling. He has had to do enough of that this year already, so a straightforward media session is a welcome relief.
