In the end, Diogo Jota's second-half goal was enough for Klopp’s boys to secure the 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest.
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Jurgen Klopp was happy to see Liverpool win their hard-fought quarterfinal clash against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday. The match was not as straightforward as many thought it would be but the Reds hung on to see out a narrow win. In the end, Diogo Jota’s second-half goal was enough for Klopp’s boys to secure the 1-0 victory and their reward is a semi-final clash with Manchester City at Wembley next month. Klopp said, in his post-match press conference, “It was [exciting], it was the game we expected, especially if you don’t use the chances and don’t play as [good] as we could have done.”
“We could have obviously played better, but we should have scored in the first half. The situations they had were counter-attacks when we lost the ball, but apart from that we controlled it absolutely. As I said, if you score earlier it is a completely different game. If you score late-ish then Steve [Cooper] had obviously changed [tactics], very offensive, full risk and we had our counter-attacking chances, didn’t use them, didn’t play them out properly and it was 1-0 until the end.
“All fine, all respect to Steve and Nottingham Forest, really. A top, top performance, really passionate, really well organised. In cup competitions we all know that, there is only one reason to be part of it and that’s to go to the next round. We did that in an atmosphere where everything was prepared to give us a knock as well, but because we were prepared for a fight we came through it and I’m really happy about that.”
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Liverpool have next set up a high-octane clash against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. Speaking about it, Klopp said, “We are in between… we start with Watford, Benfica then City, City, United, Everton. From a Liverpool perspective these are all massive games, so we will try to play them once at a time and not altogether. It will not be possible. Before the game, [we knew] obviously City would be the opponents if you want to go to the final anyway.”
“The further you go in whichever competition, it is likely you will face City at one point. And this year that you will face us at one point, I don’t think we are the dream draw for anybody. But it will be a tough one, we have to make sure we make it tough for City as well. There are a lot of games to play before then.”
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