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Julian Nagelsmann admits Hoffenheim were blown away by the power of Anfield that left his players "running around like headless chickens."

Three goals inside the first 21 minutes helped Liverpool romp to a 4-2 win on the night and a 6-3 aggregate win in their Champions League play-off.

Speaking before the game, Nagelsmann had been dismissive of the effect playing at Anfield would have on his team.

But the 30-year-old changed his tune after Jurgen Klopp's men had inflicted a chastening defeat.

Asked what was going through his mind after Liverpool's blistering opening, Nagelsmann said: “My thought at the time was 'well, this could be going better'. The reason was we didn't start the match well at all.

“The first couple of minutes were already very challenging. They got a free-kick on the edge of the area, we made two or three poor tackles, the crowd could sense that and really got behind Liverpool and you know that's how atmosphere builds here.

“We were running around like headless chickens. The team showed a bit too emotion and we left too many gaps.

“The additional factor was that in the first 30 minutes there were two or three players who weren't on the pitch at all. If we'd played the way we did against anyone, we'd have lost 4-2.

“Liverpool played the way they did in the first leg and scored the goals exactly the way they do in the Premier League.

“The difference was in the first leg we played well and tonight we didn't.”

(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Nagelsmann admitted Hoffenheim had no answer to an electric performance from Sadio Mane, saying: “I can't put an engine and a propeller (on my players). That's illegal on the pitch!”

Hoffenheim pulled a goal back through substitute Mark Uth moments after being introduced at 3-0, and Nagelsmann added: “After the substitution we were more offensive than before, a back five went to a back four.

“Our confidence has been our strength in the past. The tactical structure for this game wasn't the cause for what happened. It was more to do with the fact we didn't implement the gameplan we had discussed.

“We had some problems. We were a bit messy in terms of defence and attacking. We didn't build the pressure we wanted to. But the problem wasn't with the tactical structure.

“We are disappointed to have lost but what helps is that we lost to a team that was clearly better.”

Nagelsmann was also asked why he spent most of the game sat in the dugout while his team slumped.

“The chair was quite comfortable, actually!” he answered. “But sometimes you have to accept the other team is better.

“There's no point going up into the technical zone when you're losing 4-1 and haven't had a shot at goal in 20 minutes. I'm not one who does things for show.”