Klopp pleased despite defensive worries

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he was happy with his sides defence, despite just hanging on in their Champions League qualifier against Hoffenheim. Klopp's side conceded in the 87th minute as Mark Uth slotted past Mignolet relatively unchallenged from the back four. Hoffenheim also had a host of chances throughout the game with the majority wasted due to their attack, rather than Liverpool's defence. 

But Liverpool still go into the second leg in the lead thanks to a fantastic free kick from exciting youngster Trent Alexander Arnold as well as an own goal from Havard Nordtveit.  

“If I think back two-and-a-half hours, if someone had said we would have won tonight I would have taken any result – even 8-7,” Klopp said. 

“I’m happy about the result. I’m not happy with their goal but I think they deserved the goal over the 90 minutes with their efforts. 

“I also thought that we played defensively really well because the plan was to let them play in the spaces that we believe were not dangerous. It is a specific style of play which is really difficult to defend. 

"When they changed their style of play we gambled a bit too much on both offensive wings and that left both Trent and Alberto (Moreno) alone so they could cross. 

"Dejan (Lovren) had a great header and Joel (Matip) played outstandingly good, but I would have scored in that moment!” 

With the exception of the ongoing Philippe Coutinho saga, Liverpool, and Liverpool fans, have been desperate for the signing of a top class centre back. Look no further than Virgil Van Djik. Their interest was clear in the Southampton defender earlier in the summer with a failed bid for the Dutch centre back with his club reluctant to sell.  

Southampton complained to the Premier League over an 'illegal approach' from the Merseyside club resulting in a humiliating apology. As interest seemed to cool following this, the rumour mill has been in overdrive recently and this has been encouraged after Liverpool's dodgy defensive displays in their first two competitive games. 

The transfer window closes on the 31st August and we will all know then if Klopp decides to bolster his defensive options.