Jurgen Klopp praised the first half performance of his Liverpool side as they scored three goals to see off Southampton at Anfield, but was not quite as impressed with the second.
Klopp was not in the dugout for the match on Saturday, having been issued a one-match touchline ban, but the Reds were able to perform without their manager spurring them on and raced into a 3-1 lead before half-time.
Darwin Nunez was on the scoresheet twice for Liverpool, and Klopp took the time to praise the Uruguayan for his contribution in particular.
“The first half was really good and the second half is not a half where we win the football Oscar for us,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website.
“We made a lot of mistakes in the second half – first half was really good.”
On Nunez, Klopp said: “In the system we play Darwin has to defend the left-wing, we cannot change that, but when he’s offensive then it’s only for balls in behind the wing [he] might be in position but in all situations, he has to be in the centre.
“That’s where he was in that moment with the third goal as well. So, great play.”
The victory saw Liverpool return to the top six of the Premier League, having endured a difficult start to the season that sees them cut adrift in the developing title race.
With today’s win following last weekend’s triumph away at Spurs, the Reds enter the World Cup break in a promising position and will hope to grow in strength as the campaign rumbles on.