Jurgen Klopp saluted Liverpool’s resolve against “the best set-piece team” as they cranked up the pressure in the battle for Champions League qualification.
Mohamed Salah’s 30th goal of the season after 13 minutes was sufficient to earn a 1-0 Premier League win over Brentford at Anfield on Saturday evening.
A sixth successive victory moved the Reds to within a point of the top four, albeit having played two games more than both Newcastle United and Manchester United.
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And Klopp has hailed Liverpool for the manner in which they withstood a barrage of Brentford dead-ball situations to earn a second clean sheet in four days.
“Hard-fought victories are great,” said the Reds boss. “The best defensive set-piece session I ever saw. Brentford has a lot of qualities but the set-pieces are super special. I told the boys directly after the game the focus and concentration we showed around the set-pieces against the best set-piece team I ever played.
“We and them created like 50-60 set-pieces. Throw-ins, corners, free-kicks, goalie takes it from their own half and eight players line up. Super difficult. Everybody in this line of eight we had stepped up today and was aware of the need we had in these moments. That was great.”
Liverpool dominated possession in the first half but Brentford responded strongly after the break, although they managed only one shot on target when Alisson Becker fielded a tame Bryan Mbuemo effort early on.
And assessing the game, Klopp said: “First half, lots of good football moments until Trent lost the ball in that area which was maybe one reason we all of a sudden didn’t play any more. When we played, we had super moments. Came between their lines, mixed it up, in behind, in between.
“I liked it a lot but it was a moment which we need to learn to react to better and keep doing the right things. Then second half when you’re only 1-0 up, it’s clear for them. They knew we cannot avoid set-pieces.
“Whenever the ball goes over a line, it’s red alert. How we deal with that, and we all had the game against Nottingham in our minds. That looked completely different in a super intense period for us, the week with Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday and they have a full week off. It all makes an impact.
“I’m really happy with this hard-fought 1-0 win. The goal was great, the defending was great and part of the football played was really, really good.”
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