Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool’s win over Arsenal: ‘I don’t know when I last had so much fun at a football game’

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David Lynch31 October 2019

Jurgen Klopp admitted he couldn’t care less about the errors that punctuated an unforgettable Carabao Cup win over Arsenal on Wednesday evening.

The Liverpool manager instead preferred to focus on praising a group of young players who put their ‘soul on the pitch’ en route to victory at Anfield.

Despite twice finding themselves two goals down during a remarkable fourth-round tie, the Reds simply refused to lie down, ultimately sealing their place in the next round on penalties after a 5-5 draw.

And so it was no surprise to see that Klopp was in no mood to offer dispassionate analysis speaking in his post-match press conference.

The German said: “I don’t know when I last had so much fun in a football game.

“I saw so many really good performances, I was so happy and pleased for the kids obviously, they will remember their first night at Anfield for the rest of their lives and in the end they made it a proper, special football night.

“Everybody who came tonight to Anfield saw 19 goals, which is pretty special. Really perfect, absolutely perfect.

“Yes, maybe as a manager I should think more and worry more about the goals we conceded, but I couldn't care less, to be honest. I couldn't care less tonight because the mistakes we made were obvious.

“For development it's the most important thing that you react in the right way. There's a perfect football game all these boys can play, but a rather difficult game is what we have to make them ready for.

“It was a difficult football game and they worked their socks off and played their soul on the pitch. I really loved it.”

Liverpool’s shootout victory was sealed by academy starlet Curtis Jones, who calmly slotted home the fifth and final spot-kick at the Kop end.

But Klopp revealed that the initial plan was for the young Scouser to take the penalty prior to that.

Photo: Reuters/Andrew Yates
Reuters/Andrew Yates

He added: “You need to be born in Liverpool probably to do that. It was not my idea.

“When I saw the list the last time, Divock was on five and Curtis on four. When I saw the number four coming and it was Divock then I thought, 'OK, obviously they changed it'. Good situation.

“Curtis has no issue with self-confidence, he absolutely doesn’t struggle in that department. It's good. It's absolutely nice. I cannot say more about it really.”

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