Jurgen Klopp has explained how Ashley Young’s red card affected his Liverpool and given his reaction to Ibrahima Konate avoiding one of his own during Saturday’s Merseyside Derby at Anfield.
The Toffees full-back was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 37th minute of the contest, which forced Sean Dyche into switching to a back five at half time.
The visitors were much more defensive after the break and stood firm until the 75th minute, when Michael Keane gave away a penalty for handball. Mo Salah converted from the spot before scoring again in injury time.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Klopp said that the tactical change instigated following Young’s sending off made it “difficult” for Liverpool.
“I liked it a lot. It is a derby, you have to consider different stuff,” the German said. “With a better last pass in the first-half we are three nil up. We should have scored from our counter attacks and good offensive transitions, and didn’t.
“We didn’t allow them to do what they wanted. We were clear in the challenges. It is difficult because it was a deep block and they adapted slightly and set up to our strengths.
“I liked a lot of moments and then the red card was pretty influential in the game. I wanted us to be calm and ignore that we were one man up.
“It is difficult in the stands because it’s like now you have to create with each possession and it took a while until we got chances. And then the penalty. I saw it back and it is a clear penalty.”
Klopp admitted that Liverpool were lucky not to be down a man in the second half. Konate was already on a booking when he took down Beto as the Everton striker was about to race clear, but referee Craig Pawson chose not to brandish a second yellow.
“Ibrahima, could have gone, yes,” he said. “It could have happened obviously and then we took him off and from that moment we were solid and compact.”
