Don't miss the big Liverpool FC stories by getting our newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jurgen Klopp believes the change in Liverpool's approach this season proves it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks.

The Reds kept a sixth clean sheet in nine Premier League matches as they ground out a gutsy 1-0 win at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

It's been the best start to a season defensively in the club's history with Liverpool only off top spot on goal difference.

Klopp admits his side are learning the art of protecting a narrow lead rather than always looking to take risks.

“It's developmental. You have to develop, of course,” he said.

“We were 1-0 up and then we defended in a different space.

“Last year our big strength was high pressing and then when there were moments when they didn't play football, it was like 'sorry'.

“It's like a dog – if you don't give him his favourite toy and you throw something else he thinks: 'No, I don't want that, I want the other one, I want to play high press.'

“That's how you develop, step by step, doing different things. Now we have to be better in the midfield press. Against Huddersfield our midfield press wasn't our problem.

“Our problem was only when we had the ball, we could have done better.”

Liverpool have yet to click attacking wise this season and on Saturday they fashioned just two shots on target in 90 minutes.

Klopp was left to rue the quality of the Reds' final ball as some promising breaks came to nothing.

“This will probably not be a famous game when people look back. But I saw at least five or six situations where we had the ball in the right space between the lines,” he said.

“We just had to pass one ball, the run was already there. But the last ball hit the leg of another player or something. That hurts because you're going in one direction, then they win the ball and you have to go in the other direction.

“So for us it's not cool and for them it's a boost. That's how a game like this develops. But I'm fine with the result.

Read how we rated the players here

“Before this game somebody told me my record against the bottom three clubs (away) was awful. You cannot win only with offensive football, it's not possible because you are open and the pitch is too big for that.

“You need to be organised and, on the other side, you need to create. It was really just the last ball in between that needed to be better – one touch. Everything was fine apart from that.

"But I were to say 'that's enough for me, if we can have 20 games in a row like this, I will take it', that would be a lie.

"We don't want to always need a post or a penalty that nobody sees – I don't know whether it was a penalty or not. We need to create by ourselves, that's our ambition really."

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Klopp revealed that Gini Wijnaldum was left out of the starting line up on Saturday due to an ear infection and a sickness bug the night before.

The Dutch midfielder ended up coming on for the second half after Jordan Henderson complained of a tight hamstring.

Klopp was also without Sadio Mane due to a broken thumb and he decided that Roberto Firmino needed a breather.

In their absence, Xherdan Shaqiri shone from a central midfield role - creating the winner for Mohamed Salah.

Klopp was impressed by the Swiss star, who was making only his second Premier League start for the Reds.

"We couldn't start Gini," Klopp confirmed.

"Sadio (Mane) and Naby (Keita) were also out. Firmino just came back so we had a decision to make.

"Do we put Fabinho on and Hendo on the right or do we bring in (Xherdan) Shaqiri? That (playing Shaqiri) made sense.

"It looked good. Offensively he looked good, he was a very dominant player. He was absolutely okay and he liked it, but at the end he had to fight as well.

"He has now had three 90 minutes in 10 days. We will see how he will react."