The Reds salvaged a point from the clash at Anfield as Dejan Lovren’s second-half header equalised an earlier opener from Dries Mertens for the visitors.
The result means Klopp’s team continue to lead the section ahead of Napoli and Salzburg but must avoid defeat against the latter on matchday six to guarantee a place in the last 16.
Read the manager’s post-match verdict below…
On his assessment of the game…
It’s not that I have problems keeping my arms down. It was clear we wanted to decide it tonight and we knew before the game, long before the game, it would be difficult against Napoli because last year it was difficult and it will always be difficult, they are just a good side. Then the last two things that should have happened – they score 1-0 and Fabinho gets injured. One problem for tonight we could solve with Gini, who played a really, really good game, but the other thing caused us a problem. Napoli were anyway set up mainly for a proper fight; whoever sees Napoli playing usually, it was a different approach tonight. It was clear going for a result, scoring a goal and defending with all you have.
We had to increase pressure, which we did, the last 15 minutes of the first half were good, like it should be. Second half, it was this normal game when you play against a quality side who defend with all they have. The wings were open and we tried to use that but we crossed the ball too early most of the time. You have to come into this situation on the touchline and then you have different options – you can play the ball to the edge, you can chip the ball, you can shoot between the goalie and the last line, but we crossed the ball too early most of the time. That’s why the goalie caught so many balls. But we scored our goal, a really nice one. And we tried to chase the game again or continued to chase the game. It didn’t work out for us tonight but that’s how football is, you don’t always get the results you want.
On the difficulty of facing Napoli and the situation in the group…
Obviously I struggle when I play Napoli, sorry for that! It’s more about how good they are, that’s how it is. Nevertheless, last year we went through, we won here and that was the most important thing. This year we have to fight until the last day of the group and that’s exactly the same as we had to do last year. So it’s not really new for us. Did I expect Napoli like this? Probably yes. Carlo is a smart guy; Napoli are maybe not in absolutely their best moment, so you set up rather defensively, try to deny the strength of the opponent and use your skills in the counter-attack. That’s what they did for that goal.
I think they played a similar system against Cagliari maybe, this kind of four or five in the back, so we knew it’s possible but anyhow it makes it difficult when they are 1-0 up. The situation in the table is still open. In the moment, probably the Napoli guys think they’re already through but they have to play Genk at home, and a lot of people around Liverpool think, ‘Now we have to play again and have to put in everything we have.’ But it was never different. I can’t remember one game since I’m here where we could go in with 50 per cent. That’s our situation and it’s OK. It’s not brilliant but it’s OK. Now let’s use the situation.
On what caused Liverpool the most problems this evening…
What caused us the most problems was that they scored that goal and could defend like they defended. I think Napoli usually plays a different kind of football and are much more offensive. They were tonight in a defending and counter-attacking mood and that’s never easy; when a team with the quality of Napoli chooses such an approach it makes life difficult. They would have changed probably if we would have been 1-0 up, that would maybe have been a different game, we don’t know. That’s it.
On speaking to Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti…
We spoke on the way to the dugout and I am not sure if they are still here because I have done a lot of interviews since the game finished, so since then we didn’t really speak. After the game he wished me luck for the rest of the season and I wished him luck for the rest of the season, so we did that already. That’s it.
On the trip to Salzburg now being a crucial game in the Reds’ season…
I don’t want to say we need [the intensity of] it, but we had it always. Come on, I am four years in, tell me when it was easy. Last year we had to win at home 1-0 against Napoli, I cannot remember a bigger pressure game than that. It was really difficult and we did it, so now we have to go to Salzburg. In this moment, the game is over so my problem is Fabinho is injured and Brighton [is next] – not Salzburg, not at all. But I know how human beings are; people wished we could finish the group tonight and make kind of a holiday game in Salzburg. Never happened, will never happen. So, that’s the situation. If we have ambitions in the Champions League, we have to show that in Salzburg – and until then, we have to show our ambitions in the Premier League. There are a couple of games to play until then and we have to be focused on them – and we will be, no doubt.