Klopp reflects on Dortmund defeat, praise for ‘fit’ Sturridge

Liverpool were defeated 3-1 by Dortmund last night after a second half show from Christian Pulisic overturned the reds half time lead.

For Klopp he thought the reds second half performance was better and that he was surprised we scored in the first half.

The reds only arrived in the United States 36 hours ahead of kick off and Klopp suggested the conditions caught some of the players out.

For both teams it was obviously very difficult circumstances, the humidity and all that stuff. I think a few players thought after five minutes: ‘Wow, where are we here?’ So that was the football we played in the first half.

Set-pieces were probably the most positive thing today. In the second half we played much better against a completely different Dortmund side. Our pressing was much better. Dortmund tried to play football and played our cards, if you want, which helps us a little bit to do this. We won the balls but we didn’t do very good things with the balls we won. The surprise is that we scored the goal in the first half and not in the second half.

Klopp also suggested that Keita was off his usual game due to tiredness:

He can do much better, that’s clear. He was exhausted, he was really done in the last few minutes when they scored on the counter-attack. Usually Naby is fit and around the situation. I think it was the third goal, he couldn’t do it anymore. But, football-wise, he is in a very good way because he’s a naturally skilled player.

But Klopp was more positive about Daniel Sturridge, who fans must be hoping can finally put his injury curses behind him.

He is in very good shape, that’s true. It was a very intense pre-season so far and he was part of pretty much all the sessions. He looks really good. Who doubts Daniel Sturridge when he is fit? I don’t. He is an outstanding player, hopefully he can stay fit and then the future is bright. He is still young enough, it’s not that he is 30-something.

Next up for Liverpool is a game against Manchester City.  They will have had a lengthy five day break after also losing to Dortmund on Friday.  That game takes place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday night at 8pm local time (1am Thursday in the UK).

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