Aitor Karanka: Liverpool the best team Middlesbrough have faced this season
Wednesday 14 December 2016 23:32, UK
Aitor Karanka says Liverpool were the best team Middlesbrough have faced this season after falling 3-0 against the Reds.
Goals from Adam Lallana (2) and Divock Origi meant Liverpool returned to second place after taking just one point from the previous two games.
Middlesbrough are 17th, three points off the drop, and manager Karanka says it was impossible to stop their opponents at the Riverside.
Karanka told Sky Sports: "It was difficult because we played against the best team we've played against this season. It was impossible to stop them.
"The second half, with two new players we tried to pressure higher, but it was difficult because they showed they were a really good team. And today they can say and admit that they were much, much better than us."
The Spaniard was however positive about his side's start to the campaign after their long-awaited return to the Premier League.
They face Swansea at home on Saturday, and Karanka says they must remember how well they have played in recent weeks.
"Always we have competed against every single team, but today it was impossible. I can't say anything bad about my players because the fight on the pitch was amazing.
"We try to keep going, to know we have a really important game here on Saturday and to move forward.
"It was difficult to go forward when you don't have the ball. Again, we have to know how good we've been in the last few games. "
