Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool 'were not good' in 3-0 win at Bayern Munich

Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp was not satisfied with Liverpool's performance in their trouncing of Bayern Munich  Credit: AFP

Having just seen his side dismantle Bayern Munich on their own turf, you might have expected Jurgen Klopp to be a picture of contentment.

Instead, as the Liverpool manager dissected his side’s emphatic 3-0 win, he was a portrait in frustration and irritability lamenting the flaws in an eye-catching performance.

To the neutral eye there were not too many to report as Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho demonstrated why Anfield could be entertainment central in the season ahead.

Klopp, however, was in no mood to accept commendations.

“You know that I am not like this,” said the Liverpool manager.

Daniel Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge scores Liverpool's third against Bayern

“We won 3-0 but I don’t like running around saying, ‘how good was this?’ because it was not. In a few parts of course it was good, in a few other parts everyone saw that Bayern had the ball too often and it was too easy to play through our lines. I cannot ignore this on a day like today.

“I have to speak to things that are not good because I see it. It is not that I am trying to make the league afraid, ‘oh my god Liverpool beat Bayern 3-0 and they can do better.’ We have to do better and that is what we are working on.”  

Naturally, Klopp emphasised the fixture in the Allianz Arena was a mere warm-up, and his counterpart Carlo Ancelotti attributed the gulf between the sides to the difference in their conditioning.

He suggested Liverpool were more advanced because they are in preparation for the Champions League qualifier, yet Bayern’s first competitive game comes earlier – this weekend – in the German Super Cup.

Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane celebrates opening the scoring at the Allianz Arena

Liverpool were certainly fitter and sharper, but there was also a tactical aspect to the demolition as Bayern wilfully played into Klopp’s strengths in the first half and were exposed on counter-attacks.

Mane and Salah – playing together for the first time – instantly highlighted the threat they will pose this season.

“Yes it looks good but they need to get  fit and stay fit and hard and resistant because the season will be difficult. That is what we are preparing,” said Klopp.

“You saw that Sadio is not where he can be so he needs playing time, playing time, playing time. Yes of course they are both good but they don’t need to know it all the time when they play together – and oh my god with Phil Coutinho behind as well to play all the passes for them to run in behind.”

Liverpool play again in Munich this evening, but the side facing Atletico Madrid in the Audi Cup final is likely to be significantly different.

Daniel Sturridge was due to start but now must wait to see the extent of his thigh injury picked up in the closing stages.

A repeat performance might ensure a few more tip Liverpool for good things this season, but the manager’s famous mantra about turning doubters into believers seems to be balanced by a need to ensure restraint now.

“We can do much better,” said Klopp.

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