Jurgen Klopp admits he is taking nothing for granted despite believing Liverpool are capable of progressing in the Champions League.
The German and his team endured a frustrating evening in Russia as the Reds were forced to settle for a point after a 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow.
An unflattering scoreline could have been much more pleasing on the eye had Liverpool been ruthless and made their dominance pay.
Whilst discussing his side’s chances of making it out of the group, Klopp touched on an intriguing matchup with a former Liverpool transfer target.
“Yes, of course I have seen enough. We know more about the two teams now, we were in both games the better side,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.
“We know Moscow have a lot of injury problems tonight, for sure Quincy Promes will be back for the next game and a few other players, really good players, so that will change their game also.”
“But what is confidence? In football you can never be sure. Yes, we are strong enough to go through this group, but we have to do it; when the door is open, you still have to walk through it and the door is not even open, we can [just] see a little bit of light in behind.”
“But we will be ready to go through because the boys really work hard. You can see that they really want [it]. In the moment, how I said… it’s not a cross and we can shoot there, deflected and it goes there… you have sometimes these situations. Stay cool, carry on, work hard and you will succeed in the end.”
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Promes was tipped as a target for the Reds last January, although speculation that the club would push forward with a deal failed to materialise. He now poses a serious threat when Spartak travel to Anfield for the return game.
Tuesday’s result followed up a disappointing draw in Liverpool’s opening group stage game at home to Sevilla, with both fixtures displaying similar issues.
A lack of conviction is proving costly for a side that remains reliant on outscoring opposition teams and one that is, in fact, accustomed to doing exactly that.
That said, it wasn’t for a lack of trying from Klopp’s men given just how many opportunities they had to win the game.
The goals need to return, and fast.