For Liverpool fans, there was one word that was one word which was the prevailing feeling after the Reds' disastrous performance vs Wolves: Disappointment. Jürgen Klopp expressed those same sentiments to the media after the match but also talked about his overall concerns and the fact that he still has confidence in the club and its players.
Every time it looks as if Liverpool have turned a corner this season, it seems that fall back into bad habits The Reds played much better in their last game, but that did not carry over to this match.
“Very frustrating, very disappointing,” said Klopp “The start into the game was horrible, absolutely horrible; it was the opposite of what we wanted to do. The first 12 minutes, 2-0 down, is absolutely never helpful, but especially in our situation. It is absolutely not allowed to happen. Not for being passive, not for doing what we did in these moments. So, we saw different games today – all in one. The first 12 minutes, then an OK away performance where we created, we were there, that was absolutely OK. Then we started extremely well in the second half. The first 25/30 minutes of the second half was brilliant, was a super away game without scoring and then they scored the third goal from a counter-attack and the rest is then getting it over the line, pretty much”
Liverpool has started slowly in games more often than not over the last two seasons. Last year, they could overcome it. This year, those comebacks just have not happened.
“We had that subject (to slow starts) through the first part of the season and now not so much anymore,” Klopp said. “But today it was, if you want, the pinnacle of our problems because in a game like this it is absolutely not allowed. You can criticize, you can judge us, you can say whatever want and you are probably right – I have nothing to say against that because these 12 minutes are not allowed.”
Even with the loss and the struggles this season, Klopp still has faith in his players and system to turn things around.
“I have not lost any confidence in our players,” Klopp said. “I still know how good they are and how good they can be. But football, and life, is not like this… I don't lose confidence in the boys or whatever, but I see where we have to improve. That's what we are working on but again it makes this so typical to the situation. The start is horrible and then it's normal and then it's great but, OK, without finishing, I get that. Playing a 0-0 like we would've played the whole game like the [first] 30 minutes in the second half, we would've loved to see the end result. But in the moment it is always if, if, if. I cannot hear it anymore but it's still the situation.”
There is not much to say after a game like this, but Klopp tried his best to put it into words. You could tell the boss was frustrated with Liverpool's play and searching for solutions, It's good to know that Klopp has not lost confidence in the players even if some supporters might be beginning to.