Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists their 0-0 draw against Chelsea was “okay” and praised some of the things his side did at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds boss kept faith with the majority of a second-string side which secured their first win of 2023 in midweek by making just three changes for the visit of Chelsea.
But it proved a tight affair at Anfield with neither side able to find a breakthrough. Mudryk was given an opportunity in the second half for Chelsea but twice hit the side-netting when free at the far post.
Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez had efforts for Liverpool saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga but clear-cut chances were few and far between and the game ended goalless.
Klopp told BT Sport: “I thought we started well in the first half, started very well in the second half but couldn’t keep it up, good spells.
“I said before the game, we have to be ready for little steps and this is a little step, we have a clean sheet against Chelsea – which is good.
“We didn’t create a lot of chances or whatever, but we had them. They had their chances as well. We defended in the second half with passion and not with clear organisation. We were too deep in these moments.
“I am okay with 0-0 today because as I said before the game you have to be ready for these steps, and you have to accept it as well.
“Would I have wished for 45 (mins) and 45 (mins) like we started each half? Yes. But we can deal with that as well.
“These kind of games have and it’s absolutely fine. We have to build on on stuff and we have good performances today. Everybody was committed to defending definitely.
“First half we won balls but we gave them away too quickly. Play the ball immediately forward without controlling it, Thiago did that which was unnecessary. I told the boys, 70-75% performance so far, there is space for improvements.”
James Milner also reacted to the 0-0 draw by putting blame on the pitch, the Liverpool midfielder added: “It was tough, two teams who aren’t obviously playing their best at this moment in time, that’s why you have to win that battle.
“The pitch didn’t make it overly easy to play as much as we’d like but we could have made it easier for ourselves by maybe having an extra touch or moving a bit more. There wasn’t many options at times and again, that’s something we could work on.”
READ MORE: Mudryk offers a bit of spark but Liverpool and Chelsea cancel each other out
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