LIVERPOOL, England -- Jurgen Klopp laughed off any suggestion that he was disappointed his Liverpool side missed out on the opportunity to go top of the Premier League following Saturday's 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.
The Reds could have gone top of the Premier League if they beat West Brom by two or more goals, but instead jumped up into second place courtesy of the win, level on points with Arsenal.
"Who wants to be on top in October?" Klopp said during his postmatch news conference.
Sadio Mane broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when the Senegal international tucked away a well-worked move before Philippe Coutinho doubled the Reds' advantage a short while later.
Liverpool's set-piece woes continued as Gareth McAuley pulled one back for the visitors from a corner kick in the 81st minute which, ultimately, denied Liverpool the chance to move to the summit of the table.
After the game, the Reds boss was asked why he did not want to go top at this early stage in the season.
"It was a little bit of a joke," he said. "We have 20 points, it was not possible that we get more tonight, so that's OK."
The result on Saturday evening meant that Liverpool have only managed to keep one clean sheet during their 2016-17 Premier League campaign.
However, Klopp insisted that his side's inability to shut out opponents was "not a big problem" and said he has been pleased with how his back four have restricted the opposition to few chances in recent matches.
"Obviously, not having a clean sheet is part of our game, I don't know," Klopp added. "It's not a big problem. I think defending, first of all, is not to let them create a lot of chances.
"I cannot remember a lot chances in the last few games -- all of them we were under pressure or lucky cross, set pieces or something.
"We are improving in this, so the goal we conceded was kind of luck. There was seven players in the box and the ball was brilliant and then fighting for the ball and falling down.
"They were quick in mind and scored the goal. They were one time quicker in mind in the game than we were and they scored a goal -- that's how football is.
"And if they scored a second one, I have to accept it but that wouldn't have changed my opinion about the game.
"It was a real challenge for my team and they did brilliantly."