03 January 2023 , 07:00
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Jurgen Klopp praised Brentford as a "smart" team as he explained what he meant by his insistence they "stretched the rules" during their 3-1 win over Liverpool on Monday.
The Bees ran out deserved winners in west London as Liverpool saw their top four hopes suffer a blow at the Gtech Community Stadium, where they fell two goals down before half-time after an Ibrahima Konate own goal and a strike from Yoane Wissa, who also saw a couple of efforts disallowed for offside.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's header then brought Klopp's side back into the game, only for Bryan Mbeumo to wrap up the win for the hosts with a third goal.
Klopp's initial comment that Brentford "stretched the rules" when he spoke to Sky Sports after the match drew some ire, with many feeling the Reds boss was looking for excuses, but in the written press conference after the match he insisted that they were "smart" for doing so.
When asked about Bees boss Thomas Frank, he said: "Not only [is he] a great coach but a nice guy as well. That doesn’t mean we will always agree on things that happen on the sideline, but I respect the work he does a lot.
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"When I say they stretch the rules in offensive set-pieces, and they do, don’t get me wrong. They are smart, but they do.
"If you singled out every situation you would find five fouls. But because it’s so chaotic, nobody sees it. That’s what they do, and it’s really good.
Klopp saw his side go down 3-1 at Brentford (AFP via Getty Images)"They react to different things. They play like this against us, but against other teams they play football and it’s fantastic. He’s doing a fantastic job and they should be really happy he’s signed until 2037 or whenever! Long time! Great club, great atmosphere, everything is good apart from the result."
On Liverpool's defeat, he added: "The second goal decided it.
"The third goal should not have been allowed and we should have played better. With these set-pieces, Brentford has the chance to create chaos, and that’s what they do. They do it really well and I respect it a lot. It’s really good and well organised.
"But we had a lot of chances in not a top, top, top-class game. We know we have to improve that, and the second goal is a present for Brentford.
Ibrahima Konate had a night to forget on Monday (AFP via Getty Images)"We took the fight, it’s not that we didn’t try at all, but we are responsible for the defeat.
"The way they play is clear, and the defending around the second goal didn’t surprise me, it’s just not right. They chip the ball down, we have two players but let him still cross the ball, and then they have two players in the far post area which we knew before the game. That’s why this goal is the one we should have defended better.
"You cannot defend long balls all the time. They were super-direct. That limits them in some aspects, but in this kind of game they are able to create chaos and they organised that extremely well."