Jurgen Klopp is delighted with Liverpool beating Bordeaux 2-1 to qualify for the last 32 in the Europa League tonight and noted his side have undergone a rapid improvement in the competition.
Bordeaux stunned Liverpool in the 33rd minute when they took the lead. The goal came from Simon Mignolet holding onto the ball for too long and the referee giving a free-kick to the French side as a result, inside the penalty area.
Henri Saivet, who had the ball rolled to him, unleashed a powerful shot which flew past the Liverpool wall and Mignolet into the back of the net.
But the lead did not last long after Christian Benteke was brought down in the penalty area in the 37th minute, allowing James Milner to take a spot-kick, from which he made no mistake.
Benteke then fired Liverpool in front in first half injury time, controlling the ball superbly from a Nathaniel Clyne cross and finishing with style.
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Neither side were able to score any further goals, meaning it ended 2-1 to Liverpool and puts the Reds top of the group.
Klopp is pleased and told BT Sport: "It was an important night for the whole team or the club because we are in the next round.
"A few weeks ago we were with three points and now we have nine – woah!
"Now we can go top of the table in the next round so it's a big chance for us."
Overall, Klopp feels the night was a positive one for Liverpool, although their first half was better than their second, while he questioned the decision to punish Mignolet for holding onto the ball for too long.
"There is no bad news tonight.
"We tried to defend in the centre, the first half was better, when we had the ball we had more ideas, but we lost balls in difficult situations for us, so it was an open game for us.
"There were some strange decisions I would say, I hope strange is not too hard a word."
