Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appeared to lay part of the blame on his side's EFL Cup defeat to Southampton on the wind at Anfield.

Shane Long scored in the dying moments to see the visiting side win 1-0 on the night and go through 2-0 on aggregate despite the hosts dominating the majority of possession in both legs.

Afterwards Klopp congratulated Southampton but admitted his side should have won, suggesting the wind made it more difficult to build attacks.

"First half, it was difficult – the wind was really strange, it was difficult to handle," he told reporters.

"You saw one or two balls when the ball stopped in a moment when nobody knew about it. That was difficult for a football-playing side."

Long's goal finished off a slick counter-attacking move that was a trademark of Southamptons's style of play on Wednesday night.

While they only controlled 27 per cent of possession, the Saints managed seven shots at goal including outstanding chances for Dusan Tadic and Steven Davis in the first-half.

Klopp acknowledged the threat Southampton posed on counter-attacks and said his side should have defended better, before bringing up those pesky gusts again.

"It was a really good performance in difficult circumstances," he added. "I said a few times when I came here [to the press conference] about the wind and everybody was laughing, but today was really difficult, really difficult to play football with this wind."

Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Show all 6 1 /6 Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Liverpool have announced that Steven Gerrard will return as a full-time academy coach. Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Gerrard returns to the club 18 months after leaving for LA Galaxy as a player. Getty via Liverpool Football Club Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool The former Liverpool captain will work with the academy to take his first steps towards management. Getty via Liverpool Football Club Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Gerrard will work with academy boss Alex Inglethorpe. Getty via Liverpool Football Club Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool The club icon was keen to play down his return as a sentiment but more of his desire to start his coaching career in the right place. Getty via Liverpool Football Club Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool Gerrard will manage a number of youth teams as well as take training for the academy trainees. Getty via Liverpool Football Club