Jürgen Klopp had his usual postgame press conference after Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday night. The fact that there wasn't a winner tonight means there will be a replay of this Emirates FA Cup match in Wolverhampton most likely on January 17th or 18th.
Klopp assessed his team's effort and reiterated his wish for FA Cup replays to be done away with. Despite his team getting a lifeline from the current rule, the Manager would like to have had tonight's game resolved by penalty kicks if necessary.
In his assessment of the match, Klopp seemed to try to take the heat off his goalkeeper. Alisson's gaff in the 26th minute led to Wolves' first goal and was emblematic of the sloppy play by the defence all around in tonight's match.
Klopp seemed to undersell the nature of the goalkeeper's mistake. He said, “... before they scored they had maybe one counter-attack and then they had this scrappy situation where it was not 100 per cent clear around the goal. We win the ball there and then Ali kicks the ball in their feet and then we are 1-0 down.”
Klopp was very happy with the 2 goals the Reds managed to score in the match. As well as he should be, both goals were classy finishes. On Darwin Núñez's goal at the end of the first half, “The goal we scored was outstanding, outstanding, and we had a few really good balls we played, a few good situations where we played in their formation.”
Klopp offered his opinion on the disallowed 3rd Wolves goal. The goal was overturned by VAR, and some people (including the Boss) thought it was a good goal at the time. On the goal, Klopp said, “I don't really know. On the pitch I couldn't see it, so I had no idea. For me, I thought it's a goal.”
When the Manager was asked about whether or not he was thankful for the reply he said, “No, no – I know where I am coming from, but the situation is that we could still play extra-time, or [a] penalty shootout and the game is decided tonight.”
This is Klopp doubling down on what he said during yesterday's press conference. He would prefer not to have to replay this match, or any Cup match, because of Liverpool's tight schedule and its effect on his squad. It is a controversial opinion as many smaller clubs rely on FA Cup replays for revenue.
