Following Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, manager Jurgen Klopp expressed his satisfaction with the team’s response to falling behind.

The Reds secured their spot in the fourth round of the competition by defeating the Championship opponents, with Cody Gakpo’s powerful strike being the highlight of a 3-1 win at Anfield. Diogo Jota equalized just three minutes into the second half, leveling the score after Kasey McAteer had put Leicester ahead.

Jota then completed the comeback with a goal in the final minute of regular time. Liverpool had some close calls in the first half, with Ben Doak and Jota both coming close to scoring. However, they quickly regained control of the game after the break, denying any potential upset from Enzo Maresca’s side and leaving Klopp delighted with the outcome.

“Top goals, absolutely top goals. The goals we didn’t score we pretty beautiful as well, they just didn’t go in, the last of Harvey (Elliott) I have no clue who (Conor Coady) blocked that,” said the Liverpool boss.

“Now we look back, a top night, Wataru (Endo) how he grew into the game, how dominant he was in the second-half. The way he won the ball, passed the ball, passed the ball through the lines again, he played a super game.”

“Jarell Quansah, not only playing outstandingly well but setting a goal up, so exciting, you can’t watch him without smiling it’s really nice to see,” Klopp added.

“Strikers fought so hard and scored super important goals both Cody (Gakpo) and Diogo (Jota). Harvey, Curtis (Jones) at right-back, Ibou (Ibrahima Konate) using his full speed in the counter-attacks in the second, Caiomhin (Kelleher) calm, composed, Kosti (Kostas Tsimikas) super difficult start and was close to losing it a little bit but found a way back into the game as well.”

Despite Kasey McAteer finishing an incisive Leicester counter-attack just three minutes into the game, which left Kostas Tsimikas injured, Jurgen Klopp downplayed the significance of falling behind. Liverpool’s trend of conceding early in matches continued, but Klopp expressed his delight at how his team grew into the game, despite the frustrating circumstances.

The 56-year-old commented, “It will probably be a headline that we went 1-0 down, but it was a completely different goal compared to the others. I’m not sure if it’s a foul or not; it looked like one from our perspective.”

“In a game like this, being under pressure and finding solutions which help us a lot, so super signs I really like that a lot. The boys enjoyed it, they pressed until the last second, they enjoyed it and I like it a lot.”

“Could we have defended it better in the first moment? Yes, the pass was good and the finish is a good finish then it’s difficult. It happened, it’s all about the reaction and without playing immediately we created massive chances, that are difficult to miss – but we did – how the ball didn’t go in the back of the net, I have no clue.”

“At half-time, it’s clear you want to make sure that we don’t get frustrated because so far we didn’t score, we have to stay positive and not chase the game, just play the game.”

“The boys did, minute -by-minute we grew into the game and it was a top performance. With all the quality of Leicester, a super-coached team, super set-up, you can pretty much see, feel and smell the confidence that they have because of their situation. It made it difficult but we kept going and improved during the game as a team and individually as well, I liked that a lot.”