Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hails squad after proving they can 'climb any mountain' with victory over PSG
Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool proved they can “climb any mountain” as victory over Paris St-Germain showed his team have stepped up a level after last season’s Champions League heartbreak.
Roberto Firmino’s injury-time strike sealed a deserved win in their opening group game after a two-goal lead was earlier cancelled out.
Given the calibre of opponent it sent another strong message about the club’s European intentions, the Brazilian notching a sixth consecutive win for Klopp’s side this season.
“If you play against PSG you have to reach the next level. You cannot play at 95 per cent, you have to reach 100 per cent or you have no chance,” said Klopp.
“The development of our club is that when you hear Liverpool play PSG you don’t think we have no chance now. I would say that one, two, three years ago probably everyone would have thought that is a mountain we cannot climb. That is good that it is not like that now and that is because of last year.
“It is still so unbelievably difficult. What the boys make of the match plan is extraordinarily outstanding to be honest, one of them a yard less tonight and game over.
“We fought a lot and I love that, but we played football as well. We are really confident and much more tuned than maybe we were in the past. We played a midfield that played a lot of times last season together and that was the reason for that. [Jordan] Henderson came back and it was a brilliant performance by him. He opened the bottle and he is ready now.
“We didn’t learn a lot that we didn’t know before but it is nice to know we can do it again.”
With Firmino named on the bench due to the eye injury sustained at Tottenham Hotspur, Daniel Sturridge started a Champions League game for the first time as a Liverpool player, repaying Klopp’s faith with the first goal.
“It was fantastic. I said to Daniel before the game, ‘You are in the best shape since I know you, physical-wise, and now you have to use that’ – and that’s what he did,” said Klopp.
“A great performance of Daniel, to be honest. The three in midfield did an outstanding job but they only can do it when both the two wingers and – how we played – the No 9 is helping in all these situations to keep the formation compact.
“Super game, super goal. That we had then the opportunity to bring on Bobby Firmino.
“The day before yesterday there was no chance, yesterday it didn’t look good and we only had one session. Then this morning he came in and said, ‘I’m fine, I can open the eye again’. That helps. It was good. I really think that it is a moment to show faith in the squad.
“When you have Bobby available you always think, ‘Come on bring him’, but it was nice to see how Daniel performed. He paid back 100 per cent. It is a good sign. To bring on Bobby after 70 minutes is a nice tool to be honest.
“It was really good in all departments. It is so difficult to defend against them but we did, with good organisation and big heart and great combinations – all 11 players involved. It was necessary we played so good and the atmosphere was fantastic – it is so special to do these things in that stadium. It is a good performance against outstandingly strong opponents.”
Thomas Tuchel, the PSG coach, suggested his team deserved a draw.
“Maybe the score did not really tell the story,” he said.
“We had a chance with [Julian] Draxler before they scored the third. The result is not correct or logical. We conceded two goals but never lost our confidence. We played with bravery and strength. They pressure you and make it hard in possession. We never lost our shape and through our efforts we got the equalising goal.”
