Hasenhüttl takes responsibility following Liverpool defeat

The Saints boss explained that his game-plan had not worked in the first half, when he went with three centre-backs at Anfield, with Jürgen Klopp's team storming to a 3-0 lead by half-time, as Diogo Jota scored twice and Thiago added another via a fortuitous deflection.

this was absolutely my fault that i sent them with this way of playing.

ralph hasenhüttl
southampton manager

Jota's opening goal arrived inside two minutes, making what was already an extremely challenging task that much harder for the visitors, and Hasenhüttl reflected afterwards that the shape and tactics his team switched to after the break, when they reverted to a back four, proved more fruitful.

"It was not a perfect start for us, and also the first half was not what we wanted to play and how we can play," he said.

"We had definitely not the right game-plan today in the first half, it was not possible man-oriented against this team to defend, and this was if you want absolutely my fault that I sent them with this way of playing football on the pitch.

"But in the second half we changed to our normal behaviour and this was ok I think. We could control them a little bit better, we had our chances also today if you want, a few really good ones, but we cannot score here. This is a little bit disappointing, but in the end if you want to have a chance here you have to have a better start.

"It was very man-oriented [in the first half] and you could see that the individual quality is not possible to defend for us. When you are not super brave and you go there one against one, even then it is hard because they are super quick and play also super quick and in the second half we played our ball-oriented shape and this helped more. Although even there you cannot defend everything, but it was better."

Saints' attention now turns to two home games in the coming week, as they host Leicester on Wednesday before welcoming Brighton to St Mary's next Saturday.

"We have to work and we have to concentrate on our strength, bring the players back on the pitch with a good plan and then hopefully having a better result," said Hasenhüttl.