Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Manchester City and "world class" Riyad Mahrez after the Blues beat Liverpool 3-2 in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
City and Liverpool went toe-to-toe in a thrilling contest at the Etihad Stadium, and it was Pep Guardiola's side that secured a place in the quarter-final after the visitors twice pegged them back. Erling Haaland's early opener was cancelled out by Fabio Carvalho, before Mohamed Salah drew Liverpool level again less than 90 seconds after Mahrez restored City's advantage.
Nathan Ake turned out to be the unlikely match-winner when he headed home Kevin De Bruyne's deep cross after a well-worked short corner.
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Both teams played with remarkable intensity given it was their first competitive football in over five weeks, although there were things both Guardiola and Klopp will want their players to improve.
The Liverpool boss was certainly of that opinion, as he took issue with the way his side defended.
"The goals we conceded were all completely unnecessary," Klopp told Sky Sports. "The third goal... we [made a] change before which gave us new organisation, but then we watched the ball in that moment and that's not possible."
However, Klopp did admit that City played very well, especially Mahrez. The Algerian scored City's second goal, firing into the bottom corner after plucking Rodri's diagonal pass from the sky with a superb touch.
"We worked hard, we did good stuff. It was not good enough for tonight but I will say it again: it's City at their home ground, it will always be an incredibly difficult game.
"If we would have found [our feet] a little earlier in the game, if we would have switched on - especially around the third goal - and the second goal, the first moment was not good but then it's world class from Riyad. The first goal we should deny the cross and then it's the Haaland move, the defender judges the situation and a second later it's another situation, he's in front of you. He does that very well."
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