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Jurgen Klopp declared himself satisfied with Liverpool's defensive display – despite his side riding their luck in a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim.

The Reds will go into next Wednesday's second leg of the Champions League play-off at Anfield in pole position thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick and an own goal from Havard Nordtveit.

Mark Uth pulled one back late on but Liverpool were fortunate not to concede before then as Simon Mignolet kept out Andrej Kramaric's penalty and Hoffenheim wasted some gilt-edged chances.

“If I think back two-and-a-half hours, if someone had said we would have won tonight I would have taken any result – even 8-7,” Klopp said.

“I’m happy about the result. I’m not happy with their goal but I think they deserved the goal over the 90 minutes with their efforts.

“I also thought that we played defensively really well because the plan was to let them play in the spaces that we believe were not dangerous. It is a specific style of play which is really difficult to defend.

“When they changed their style of play we gambled a bit too much on both offensive wings and that left both Trent and Alberto (Moreno) alone so they could cross.

“I saw the penalty, I think it was offside - small but enough. During the game I thought it was much more offside. Simon together with John Achterberg together did a really good job (with the video analysis).

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“Of course it was not that decisive but it gave us a boost and it was a blow for the other team.

“We scored two goals and could have scored more. They were good set-pieces from us.

“Dejan (Lovren) had a great header and Joel (Matip) played outstandingly good, but I would have scored in that moment!”

Klopp also saluted the contribution of James Milner, who replaced Jordan Henderson in the second half.

(Image: Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

The vice-captain broke away down the left and provided the cross which was deflected in off defender Nordtveit to put the Reds 2-0 up.

"The second goal was not so bad from an older player. Milly came on and had a really big impact in the game," Klopp added.

"He was very important for us. Hendo after a long break had a very intense pre-season and I was happy I could take him off a few minutes early and then bring Milly on which helped a lot.

"I am happy but it's only half-time, not more but also not less."