Klopp's verdict on Liverpool's 1-0 victory at Nottm Forest

Diogo Jota’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 victory for the Reds at the City Ground and sets up a semi-final encounter with Manchester City at Wembley next month.

The visitors were made to battle for their win by the Championship side – and Klopp was pleased with how his team stood up to the challenge.

Read on for a summary of what the boss had to say in his post-match press conference…

On Liverpool's performance and the result...

It was [exciting], it was the game we expected, especially if you don't use the chances and don't play as [good] as we could have done. We could have obviously played better, but we should have scored in the first half. The situations they had were counter-attacks when we lost the ball, but apart from that we controlled it absolutely. As I said, if you score earlier it is a completely different game. If you score late-ish then Steve [Cooper] had obviously changed [tactics], very offensive, full risk and we had our counter-attacking chances, didn't use them, didn't play them out properly and it was 1-0 until the end.

All fine, all respect to Steve and Nottingham Forest, really. A top, top performance, really passionate, really well organised. In cup competitions we all know that, there is only one reason to be part of it and that's to go to the next round. We did that in an atmosphere where everything was prepared to give us a knock as well, but because we were prepared for a fight we came through it and I'm really happy about that.

On the atmosphere...

These kind of things are completely normal. It's great, it was an absolutely great atmosphere I have to say. They were quite competitive. Not everything that they were shouting I liked, but the noise was absolutely outstanding.

On another crucial goal for Jota...

What a player, what a boy. This goal was exceptional. It was a good cross from Kostas, a good ball, but he had to stretch the body to reach it. Scoring that goal, obviously massive and it just shows, after the injury he needed a little bit to get back on track but now I hope he is really coming back healthy from the national team because he looks like he is back again.

On facing Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final...

We are in between... we start with Watford, Benfica then City, City, United, Everton. From a Liverpool perspective these are all massive games, so we will try to play them once at a time and not altogether. It will not be possible. Before the game, [we knew] obviously City would be the opponents if you want to go to the final anyway. The further you go in whichever competition, it is likely you will face City at one point. And this year that you will face us at one point, I don't think we are the dream draw for anybody. But it will be a tough one, we have to make sure we make it tough for City as well. There are a lot of games to play before then.

On the fitness of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane...

Mo felt the foot again from the Brighton game. [It's] not massive, but it was clear that you would not be in a game like this if you have a little bit of pain here, or there. There is no chance. In that moment it was clear that we will not use Sadio for the game because the game is too big in Africa. I don't want to be twice the one who is doing things like that, which could be misunderstood. The others were all unavailable. Mo was unavailable, only Sadio we left out.