Jurgen Klopp explains what he said to his Liverpool players at half-time vs Luton Town

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Even before the game kicked-off there was a portentous feeling at Anfield ahead of Luton Town last night. With so many key players missing for Liverpool, this was going to be a game that would make or break the Reds.

For much of the first half, it seemed like it was going to be the latter. Jurgen Klopp’s young team couldn’t get properly settled in the game. Liverpool didn’t play badly. They created a lot of chances. However, there was just something missing in the final third.

Things got worse when Luton somehow managed to find a way into the game and took the lead. It meant Liverpool headed into the tunnel at half-time with slumped shoulders and their heads down. But Klopp lifted his players in the second-half. The Reds came back utterly transformed and swept Luton away with a resounding victory. Speaking after the game, Klopp explained what he said to his players at half-time.

Jurgen Klopp on what he told his players vs Luton Town

Klopp will have known that he needed to make changes in the second-half. He needed to give his players belief. He needed to inspire them to put in a huge performance in the second-half.

Speaking to the BBC, Klopp explained what he told his players during the first-half break.

“Exceptional game,” Klopp said. “I liked lots of the first half, but I saw that the boys and crowd didn’t like it as much. We started okay and you have to get used to an opponent, then they score their goal, but everything was good until the final third and then we were in a rush.

“I told the boys it was a top game and we have to be calmer in decisive moments, then there were fireworks and wonderful goals – fantastic night and it is just really good.”

Klopp is right. Even though there was a lot of doom and gloom in the first half, Liverpool didn’t play badly. His team just needed an extra little push at half-time and it seems that’s exactly what he gave his players.

That ended up being a masterstroke and leading to one of Liverpool’s best performances in the second-half this season. All the more impressive, given the context of how many key players were missing from the squad.