Boss: Patience was key to a 'brilliant' second half
Liverpool's 'brilliant' second-half performance against Middlesbrough was down to the greater level of patience they showed after the break, Jürgen Klopp believes.
After two games without a victory, the Reds returned to winning ways in fine style at the Riverside Stadium, with a brace from Adam Lallana and a fifth goal in as many games from Divock Origi earning a comprehensive 3-0 success.
Klopp’s side were a goal to the good at half-time thanks to Lallana’s header and they eased through the gears after the interval, producing arguably one of their best 45-minute displays of the season to ensure the final score reflected their dominance of the game.
The manager was delighted with the manner in which Liverpool went about their business in the second half and he praised his team’s attitude and application after the break.
LFCTV GO: Watch Jürgen's analysis of Boro win in full
“In parts of the first half we were already really dominant but then it was like it was a little bit too intense having the ball all the time, so give it to them a few times!” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“But that makes absolutely no sense, when we passed the ball a little bit too late, we had no orientation, it was really like a break with the ball [and] you can’t make a break like this.
“Too static, no orientation, so we gave the ball too easy away so we had to defend. It’s no problem, but [Adama] Traore on the right wing, we obviously had three or four players there, it was really difficult but we did well, and after they had set-pieces and that’s always dangerous.
“Second half - we knew it of course but we couldn’t change it in the first half - we said it again, we need to move to really play absolutely simple until the moment when we see the space.
“We don’t have to force it, we will create chances, and the boys did brilliant second half. It was a big step and worked really good.”