Jurgen Klopp said he was tempted to applaud the stunning strike by Jamie Vardy that set his Liverpool side on their way to a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City on Tuesday.
Vardy's two goals ensured Leicester took another step towards an unlikely Premier League title triumph, with the victory at the King Power Stadium keeping them three points clear at the top of the table.
The result pushed Klopp's Liverpool down to eighth, 11 points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, but the Reds manager was still able to appreciate the Foxes' endeavours -- especially the opening goal.
With an hour gone, Vardy ran on to a lofted pass from Riyad Mahrez, spotted Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet off his line and fired home from 25 yards.
"Things like this happen when you are in such a good moment like Jamie Vardy and Leicester are," Klopp is quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "Obviously you need a little bit of luck but it was really good. First of all you need to be brave enough to do it.
"It's the perfect season for Leicester and the perfect season for Jamie Vardy. They deserve every point they get and Jamie has deserved every goal he's scored until now. I was close to clapping my hands to be honest but I just felt too bad at that moment."
Emre Can and Alberto Moreno went close for a toothless Liverpool, leaving Klopp to reflect that the finishing of Vardy -- who took his league tally to 18 for the season with his 71st-minute second goal -- was in stark contrast to that of his side. Liverpool have now failed to score in their past three matches since their 5-4 win at Norwich on Jan. 23.
"At the end, the game is decided by a world-class goal from Jamie Vardy," Klopp said. "One second before we were in their box and we didn't shoot. That maybe shows you the difference."