Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool found their “best selves” as they reached the Champions League knockout …and showed the character to challenge for the trophy again.
The Reds struggled in the first half hour against Ajax where they had to get a result to progress…but then solved the problems of their own making with a devastating burst of three goals in 10 minutes either side of half time.
It was Mo Salah who started the charge with his sixth European goal of the campaign - making him top scorer in the competition alongside Kylian Mbappe - and afterwards, a relieved Klopp admitted it was a huge result for his team.
“We showed character, yes. It was extremely helpful to come back after they looked the better team for 35 minutes, and qualifying for the knockout stages like that is a big achievement that nobody should take for granted,” he said.
“I’m not sure what is better in our situation, to fly through a game or to overcome difficulties as we did and develop into your best self.
“That was really important and in the end we did really well, it was really helpful [for Liverpool's season]. But honestly I would have been over the moon getting a 0-0 and getting through.”
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The win means Liverpool progress through the group stage with a game to spare, and offers Klopp some breathing space to sort out his team’s problems before the knockout resumes in February.
And the manager said his side showed strength of character, as they struggled to adapt to a diamond formation, when Ajax produced an ferocious start which saw Alisson made a fine save on his 200th appearance for the club to keep them in it.
“It is a very good example of how you have to play [when things are going against you], and that is step by step and realising you have to do it again and again.
“Ajax are a good side and they will make you suffer, that is normal. Then we got through that, and we showed real quality with the first goal, and then we were excellent in those moments,” he said.
“I have no problems when a team is playing well that you have to defend until you can take over. And we did that eventually, even though we were unsettled in the first half an hour.”
Klopp had nine players not available to start, and there was a worrying moment at the end when Jordan Henderson suffered what appeared a serious injury. But the manager eased fears when he said:
“I think it was knee on knee and so just bruising. So he should be ok, and I think everyone else came through it ok, nobody came to me with a problem afterwards.”
