Klopp has challenged his players to forget their Carabao Cup success as Liverpool begin the pursuit of adding further to their trophy haul this season against Southampton in the FA Cup.
the Reds boss says it is accurate to label the eight-day period between Brentford away and the Wembley triumph on Sunday as one of the toughest weeks of his career
After seeing Ryan Gravenberch become the latest injury casualty at Wembley, to make it 12 players in total before Wataru Endo made it 13, Klopp reflected on a difficult period as he called on his team to train their focus on the FA Cup
Klopp
"That’s absolutely true [that it was one of the most challenging weeks],"
"The Sunday after Brentford I was sitting at home on a day off getting the messages about all the players who were out again and that was challenging.
"That was tough. But the good thing is it was not the first time we have been in challenging situations.
"And because the kids have been training with us for a while it was not like they had to introduce them to me and my eyes needed to get used to the boys.
"We know them from being around every day because of our situation and we know their quality.
"Yes it was challenging but it didn’t feel as challenging from Monday on. Luton you don’t know what you can expect and then the second half was pretty special, where we proved a point.
"Of course it is important who is playing but it is much more important how we play, and that is the point we proved in the second half.
"And then Wembley was Wembley. It ended up being a very positive week but it’s not the final week of the year and everything is coming.
"I don’t think we will still be talking about the final in a week’s time. We have to win football games.
"Premier League games and FA Cup games are finals for us anyway. We have to keep going.
" We need players back, definitely, and we will see how quick that goes. But until then we have to fight through with what we’ve got."
Klopp added:
"The things about the League Cup that are not cool are there are so many games, two games for the semi-final, but the final is outstanding.
"The problem is you cannot celebrate it, although you can have the main part which is in the stadium and in the dressing room. But it’s fine.
"It’s absolutely better than you would imagine. The difference for the boys, I don’t know, I can’t think in the head of an 18-year-old boy any more because it is too long ago.
"But, for me, it was really touching the way they played and the way they contributed. The situation before we scored, when we got the corner, I don’t think I will ever forget it.
"Honestly. Caoimhin Kelleher passes the ball out to Wataru Endo, the ball goes left to Quansah, passes it down the line then Dannsy (Jayden Danns) chips the ball – what is he doing?! - James McConnell passes the ball to Bobby Clark, who is waiting between the lines.
"That is wonderful because these details in football are incredibly important – the positions you are in, stuff like that – and these boys are doing it.
"They are not just happy to kick the ball as far as they can. Bobby makes a little shuffle and shoots, and then it’s a corner and that’s how we set it up.
"That was such a touching moment. It shows it’s possible. I didn’t know it was possible. If you’d asked me before this line-up – can you win a game in extra time against Chelsea? No. Impossible. But seeing it and being part of it is super special.
"That’s what made it super special for all of us. I know we won bigger trophies, it just didn’t feel like that in that moment."
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