Jürgen Klopp acknowledged Liverpool did not meet their performance expectations in a 1-0 victory at Huddersfield on Saturday, but saluted the base they have created for the season.
A Mohamed Salah goal before the half-hour mark was enough to secure maximum points for the Reds, which saw them match their best start to a Premier League campaign after nine games despite being a distance from their elite standards.
They have 23 points – the same tally recorded in 2008-09 – while the clean sheet against David Wagner’s side meant Liverpool have now registered their greatest-ever defensive showing at this stage of season, with just three goals conceded.
Klopp, visibly frustrated on the touchline throughout the encounter, insisted afterwards that he was “not angry” at the dysfunctional display from his charges, but added: “I think we should expect of ourselves to do better. We expect from ourselves really good football and I like to see that.”
Liverpool’s decision-making in and out of possession was particularly poor at John Smith’s Stadium, where they managed just two shots on target.
However, only Manchester City’s superior goal difference is in the way of the Merseysiders topping the Premier League table.
“The basis we’ve created – 23 points after nine games – is brilliant,” Klopp, who was unable to select the injured Sadio Mane and Naby Keita, highlighted.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had that before. And there is still room for improvement.
“Our fixture list didn’t give [anything] to us, how I saw it. We had to work pretty hard and we did today again. It really wasn’t a thankful job to do because Huddersfield are much better than it looks in the table.”
Klopp had warned prior to Saturday that the Terriers’ performances did not correlate with their position in the league – second from bottom.
He termed the game “a trap” and Liverpool were fortunate not to trip up.
Jonathan Hogg’s rising blast from distance on 31 minutes was denied by the left-post, before Alex Pritchard put the ball beyond Alisson only to have his effort ruled out for offside.
In-between, Huddersfield had a penalty claim for what they felt was a James Milner handball waved away.
“If it’s the case that luck evens itself out over a season,” Wagner began his post-match press conference, “then I look forward to a lot of luck in the next 29 games! We, for sure, have had no luck so far.
“I’m speaking about a game that was like the last five or six. We performed very well, limiting the opponent with aggression and going man for man.
“The players did so well without the right result.
“We have the bravery, the attitude, the work ethic. If we consistently perform to a high level like we have, we will do well and get results – we are convinced. We have to keep our spirit, which we showed in the past, today and will continue to show.”
Huddersfield have had a taxing schedule, which has included playing Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool at home, while travelling to City, Leicester and Everton.
“It was tight until the end and I can imagine not only David, but people in Huddersfield think there was more in that game, but we cannot give the points back, so we take them,” Klopp said.
“I saw a very good Huddersfield side, an outstanding atmosphere in that situation which is really exceptional.
“After that awful fixture list they’ve had so far, now they can start a proper season.”
