UCL: Jurgen Klopp praises Liverpool squad after Ajax win

Following their thrilling victory over Ajax, Jurgen Klopp praised Liverpool’s performance against SSC Napoli, calling it “the response we wanted” after their 4-1 loss.

The Reds defeated Ajax at Anfield on Tuesday night thanks to an 89th-minute goal from Joel Matip.

In an interview with BT Sport following the victory, Klopp said it was exactly the kind of performance they were hoping for: “We understood what we had to do tonight – we had to put a completely different shift into the game and the boys did that. It was the response we wanted.

“The pressing was much better tonight – it was clear we had to keep going because it was very intense.”

When asked about the jubilant celebrations from the players following the goal and then subsequent full-time whistle, Klopp said:

“It was a nice celebration and showed everything the boys wanted. Now we have a strange break so we have to hope and pray that they come back healthy. Brighton is waiting.”

Although it was a much better performance, questions will be raised about how easily Ajax scored an equaliser in the first half due to some careless defending from Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. Klopp insisted that the response to conceding the goal, rather than the goal itself, was more significant:

“I will have to watch it back – you can’t avoid all balls in behind – it will always happen.

“We just don’t concede all of the time – it’s about conceding a chance and getting back to how it should have been – that is what we did tonight.”