Jurgen Klopp admitted his much-changed Liverpool side rode their luck en route to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup as they needed second-half goals from Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi to see off Preston 2-0 at Deepdale.
Klopp changed all 11 players from the side that inflicted a famous 5-0 evisceration of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday and got a radically different performance as a result.
Though Liverpool had 79% possession in the first half, they did not record a shot on target until Minamino turned in Neco Williams' cross just after the hour, and were fortunate not to have trailed at the break with Preston passing up some glorious chances, including one for Republic of Ireland striker Sean Maguire.
"We did not play well," Klopp said. "That’s how it is, we started OK but then we lost structure completely and were too lively, too desperate to get the ball.
"We didn’t have enough players between the lines. That’s normal. That can happen when the team do not play as much together… We can play much better as a team but I saw some nice individual performances and that’s OK."
In the end Liverpool came to rely on their two League Cup specialists. Origi’s goal was his 11th in 10 starts in the competition, while Minamino now has five goals in as many appearances.
"Taku is a high quality player," Klopp said of his Japan forward. "The only problem for him is that the other players in his position are really good, and thankfully for us not injured. But he is much better than he showed tonight. He understands our game."
Origi made sure of victory six minutes from time, twisting his leg acrobatically to turn in the ball after Williams saw a shot blocked.
"Divock Origi’s goal was just Divock Origi," Klopp said. "It was not a striker’s game because we did not play that well and difficult for the strikers but the goal he scored was quite special."
The Liverpool boss admitted he does not know how much longer he can get away with wholesale changes in the competition.
Origi and Minamino were two of the more predictable changes – Origi now has 11 goals in 10 League Cup starts, while Minamino has five in as many appearances – but Klopp also included teenagers Harvey Blair and Tyler Morton while giving several fringe players a run out.
Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and Ibrahima Konte made the bench after playing at Old Trafford but were ultimately not needed – something which may change in the next round with League One Sunderland the only non-Premier League side still in the competition.
"It really depends on specific situations," Klopp said of his selection. "I don't think we could have lined up really differently tonight.
"Of course Bobby was here and Diogo was here but it was not really the plan to bring them, we wanted to get through this.
"We have to see, I don’t make these decisions two or three weeks before we play the next round."
Though Klopp admitted his makeshift side did "not play well", he pointed to a number of encouraging displays.
Morton was among them, with the 18-year-old showing composure and vision with his passing in midfield.
"Tyler Morton has real talent," Klopp said. "He is a smart footballer. You can see his natural movements and his technique is really good.
"Now we have to make sure we have to help him get the body for football, that he’s not too small and skinny. That’s all to come."
Liverpool enjoyed almost 80% possession in the first half but went in having not had a shot on target, instead relieved Preston passed up a golden chance just before the half-hour mark when Adrian saved at point-blank range from Maguire before Ryan Ledson’s follow-up was stopped on the line.
Klopp replaced Joel Matip with Nat Phillips at the break, while another change 10 minutes into the second half, when Conor Bradley replaced Blair to allow Neco Williams to push forward, proved pivotal with Williams having a hand in both goals.
"Nat played really well," Klopp added of Phillips. "Joel was not injured. We wanted him to play 45 minutes so he can keep his rhythm, then Nat came on.
"He’s in incredible shape, training really well and I think you could see that. He’s a top-class centre-half so it’s good to see.
"Conor Bradley has real talent as well, a big heart and real football smarts, and it gave us an opportunity to push a bit higher."
