Saturday 20 October 2018 22:23, UK
Jurgen Klopp reflected on his best start to a season as a manager after Mohamed Salah's first-half goal sealed Liverpool's 1-0 win at Huddersfield.
Salah slotted home his fourth goal of the season and first in five club games in the 24th minute as Klopp's side bounced back to winning ways to stay level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Klopp accepted it had not been pretty. Huddersfield went toe to toe with his title challengers for long periods and hit the woodwork in the first period, but the Reds boss was delighted his side extended their unbeaten run to nine matches.
"The basis we have created so far is brilliant - 23 points," Klopp said. "I don't think I (have) had that before after nine games. And still space for improvement - good as well. So let's get home and work on improving."
Klopp said it was also the first time in his managerial career that one of his sides kept winning when not at their best.
"It was not that bad," he said. "It's maybe the first period in my life that we are winning average matches. That's true.
"We cannot write a book tonight about how to win trophies. There is only one way, and that's to win football games. And for that there are different ways.
"To be honest, sometimes I prefer the spectacular way, but I take that today completely and I understand why it was like that.
"The main reason today was Huddersfield did well. They defended well and were very aggressive round the second balls.
"After this game, everybody knows how good they are and how good they will be in the future."
Jonathan Hogg's long-range effort struck a post and Huddersfield also had a first-half penalty appeal turned down by referee Michael Oliver when the ball appeared to have hit James Milner's arm.
"You don't want to use the post to defend, to be honest. If it happens you take it, but it's not defending, it's lucky," Klopp added.
"Then with the handball, another penalty, maybe they would have missed. You need luck to only concede three goals (in nine league games), and we have sometimes needed it."
