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'The pressure was there' - Klopp relieved to pick up much-needed win

Daniel Sturridge scored the all-important first goal at Anfield.

JURGEN KLOPP ACKNOWLEDGED Liverpoolโ€™s 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town was a โ€œbig reliefโ€ as his side returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday.

After last Sundayโ€™s harrowing 4-1 loss to Tottenham at Wembley left them with just one win in their last six league outings, Liverpool were under pressure to produce a response in front of their own fans at Anfield.

The hosts laboured against resolute opponents in the first half, albeit they missed a glorious chance to go ahead before the interval when Mohamed Salah saw his penalty saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.

However, Kloppโ€™s demand for his players to be more positive paid off after the break, Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum all finding the net to secure three much-needed points.

โ€œWe had not the best week as you can imagine โ€“ itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t take the situation really seriously, itโ€™s really important for us,โ€ Klopp told the clubโ€™s website.

โ€œTottenham was the worst game weโ€™ve played in this season so far and you cannot ignore it, but you have to work with it and thatโ€™s what we did.

โ€œIt can happen, especially with the style Huddersfield played today โ€“ a rather defensive style and we were a little bit stiff. It was not fluent, we had too many players behind the ball, it was clear we wanted to give them no opportunity for counter-attack and stuff like this, but you donโ€™t need seven players behind the ball to protect the counter-attack.

โ€œThatโ€™s how it looked a little bit in the first half, so it was not too difficult to fix at half-time. You could see immediately in the second half really, we had more players between the decisive lines and so it was more difficult for Huddersfield to defend.

โ€œWe had more chances, but itโ€™s a big relief to be honest because the pressure was there. There is no doubt about that. I could hear that people didnโ€™t like the first half too much, I know itโ€™s hard work but in the end probably nobody remembers the first half because the second half was really much better.โ€

Klopp went up against fellow German David Wagner for the first time in a competitive fixture, with the two putting their strong friendship to one side for 90 minutes.

Visiting manager Wagner โ€“ who received a kiss on the cheek from his compatriot straight after the final whistle โ€“ felt Huddersfield performed admirably to silence the home crowd before a poor header from Tommy Smith set up Sturridge to break the deadlock.

โ€œIt is not very often you see Liverpool so quiet for 60 minutes,โ€ he told BBC Sport.

โ€œThe first goal was a problem for us. We did not have the best position to defend the long ball and we gave the assist for the first goal unfortunately.

โ€œI am disappointed because the players have given good effort and worked hard. The game changed after that first goal. It looked very well until we conceded that first goal.โ€

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    Mute James Quinn
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    Oct 28th 2017, 10:58 PM

    Itโ€™s been a stop start season for Klopp with the Coutinho mess, Maneโ€™s red card, suspension and injury along with Lallanaโ€™s injury but still only 3 points off top 4 and going well in the Championโ€™s League despite everything.
    But why didnโ€™t he buy a decent centre half after letting Sakho go? Crazy stuff and it looks like costing Klopp and Liverpoolโ€™s season.

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    Mute Kieran Hughes
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    Oct 29th 2017, 5:56 AM

    @James Quinn: Jurgen Flopp

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Oct 29th 2017, 8:04 AM

    @Kieran Hughes: originality wouldnโ€™t be one of your best attributes Iโ€™d say

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    Mute Ich bin brendan
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    Oct 29th 2017, 1:43 PM

    @James Quinn: new season, new excuse YNWA youโ€™ll never win aโ€ฆ. premier league throphy

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    Mute Andrew Cahill
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    Oct 29th 2017, 3:42 PM

    @Ich bin brendan: whats a throphy?

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    Mute Brian
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    Oct 28th 2017, 11:14 PM

    Look at the Liverpool fans getting excited about beating a newly-promoted team at home. Haha absolutely hilarious.

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    Mute Shane Doherty
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    Oct 28th 2017, 11:19 PM

    @Brian: spanner

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Oct 28th 2017, 11:23 PM

    @Olllie B: stop ruining his buzz

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    Mute Chris Perrey
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    Oct 29th 2017, 6:04 AM

    @Brian: yeah laughing my head off not???? The same team that bet utd

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    Mute Ich bin brendan
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    Oct 29th 2017, 1:43 PM

    @Chris Perrey: the team above pool.. Try and catch up

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    Mute Scott Crossfield
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    Oct 28th 2017, 11:06 PM

    Wn this week and next weekend and go into international break on a high, Boom!!

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