Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants further improvments after 'deserved' win
Monday 7 November 2016 08:54, UK
Jurgen Klopp says he wants further improvements from Liverpool despite their "deserved" 6-1 win over Watford sending them top of the Premier League.
Liverpool, who leapfrog Chelsea into top spot, were 3-0 up by half-time thanks to Sadio Mane's header and strikes from Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can.
Roberto Firmino got on the scoresheet 12 minutes into the second half before Mane netted his second on the hour mark and, after Daryl Janmaat had denied the Reds a clean sheet, Georginio Wijnaldum rounded off the scoring on the stroke of full-time.
But despite the thumping result, Klopp remains steadfast in seeing improvements from his team although did ultimately praise their performance on Sunday.
"In specific moments, there was a lot to be pleased about, but there are other moments when it was not too enjoyable," the German told Sky Sports.
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"It was hard work, even at the end when it looked like it wasn't. It was a brilliant performance for 84 minutes but for six minutes, we were not that good.
"They were really concentrated, they were really in the game. They really tried to do the right thing in the right moment and it was a lot to do today.
"We became less normal. We are not used to being that successful. I have no English word for it, it would be easier in German but we lost a little bit of the seriousness in one or two moments. We played too quick so we gave them the opportunity to win easy balls.
"It's not a problem that we only conceded one goal but it is a problem because we have to run then and it costs us energy in certain situations.
"There are a lot of things we can improve which is good but for today and for everybody that saw the game, they enjoyed it so it was quite a nice performance.
"It's a combination of what we try to do in training and the skills of my team so they are good and quick. They are good in small spaces, good in big spaces, a good attitude for defending, that's how it is.
"We bring this altogether onto the pitch in one game which means it's difficult to play against us. Today we did it and it was a deserved win."
Klopp brushed off suggestions that his Liverpool team are heading for their first league title since 1990 despite sitting a point clear at the top over the international break.
"It's better than being 10th, or whatever. It's very important to collect the points for the finish and for the final third of the season. We've started already collecting points but we need to go on with this and then we will see where we can end," he added.
"I'm really not interested [in talking about the title]. For me, it's more important that we look like a team who is able to win football games. On a good day, we are really difficult to play and that's the most important thing we can say.
"It's not important in this moment where we can end. I know in the past a lot of things happened here and the story two, three years ago when it was really close and everybody compares but this is not the team two, three years ago, this is not the team 25 years ago, we're completely new.
"A few of them were involved three years ago, but they were younger and now they are more experienced so nobody needs to be afraid of our future and nobody should hope for guarantees in November for where we will end up.
"This is football and we all love this game because it is really possible to win this game, and if you win it in a row, you are more successful than if you do it the other way."