Liverpool news: Joel Matip and Simon Mignolet pleased with response to criticism

Cameroon international Matip revealed that Klopp did not hold back after Liverpool’s woeful 4-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley last Sunday and a win against the Terriers was a must if the recent pall of gloom over Anfield was to be lifted.

After Jonas Lossl’s first-half penalty save from Mohamed Salah, goals from Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum after the break helped Liverpool to that much-needed victory but they were made to work hard by David Wagner’s side who were only ever interested in nabbing a point.

Matip, 26, believes the Reds are only going to improve as a team as they get older.

He said: “Especially the last game, against Tottenham, me and the rest of the team made mistakes and we were criticised. This is what it means to belong to a big club, to be a professional footballer.

“We spoke after the game, we know we did it wrong, and he (the manager) didn’t hold back, he said it directly.

“He said it was not good enough – he spoke very honestly about the things that have to change, very directly, but after this he said we carry on and try to prepare for the next game.

“You cannot dwell on it, you have to speak about this then you must move on and improve. That is what happened. We are young, really young, we are staying together, and we will improve.”

Matip’s team-mate Simon Mignolet was equally pleased with the win and the defensive solidity of Liverpool, especially after he came in for criticism following the Spurs loss.

A defiant Mignolet said: “I don’t need anyone telling me when I have had a good or a bad game, I know that myself.

“It is just about staying calm, not getting carried away with what is said because that is part and parcel of playing for Liverpool – you have to deal with it as it’s not going to change.”

Huddersfield defender Mathias Zanka was satisfied with most of this performance but accepted that stupid mistakes are going to hurt Huddersfield this term.

He said: “It feels bitter now because we worked hard without coming away with anything but you can’t take anything away from Liverpool.

“The first half was going exactly the way we wanted it too. We then started the second half and thought we would carry on going that way.

“We made an individual mistake that unfortunately led to the goal, which makes it very difficult to play at a place like Anfield.

“We are the new boys in the class, we can learn from Liverpool and learn from defeats because they sting a lot more.”