Jurgen Klopp lauds 'brilliant' Liverpool first-half performance

Posted Saturday, September 17, 2016 by Skysports.com

Jurgen Klopp praised a "brilliant" first-half performance from Liverpool after they beat Chelsea 2-1 on Friday Night Football.

Liverpool controlled the majority of the opening 45 minutes and surged into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Dejan Lovren and Jordan Henderson.

Although their lead was cut in the second half, the visitors held out to end Chelsea's unbeaten start to the season under Antonio Conte.

"The first half was brilliant," Klopp told Sky Sports. "From the first second we were there and had unbelievable movement.

"We played football like hell, it was really nice to watch, then we scored the goals, we were quick after set pieces. After they scored we managed and there were not a lot of chances for them."

Liverpool have now won at Chelsea and Arsenal and drawn at Tottenham in their first five Premier League games of the season.

"We had moments before half-time where Chelsea came into the game a little, only because we stopped playing football," added Klopp.

"We need to get used to being in a lead against a really strong side, learn how to manage the game with a lot of power in our legs and 100 per cent concentration because the second half was different. It was deeper, really passionate defending."

The pick of the goals at Stamford Bridge was Henderson's superb long-range effort in the 36th minute.

Reflecting on the strike, Klopp said: "It was a really nice goal. He is such a hard worker, there was a lot of pressure on his shoulders, we try to help him to learn and handle it and he is getting better and better.

"Jordan did well and got the benefit of all the hard work in the last few weeks with a wonderful strike."