Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp lauded his squad for stepping up in the absence of key players after his side bagged a 2-0 win over Arsenal to qualify for the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Liverpool were without the services of winger Mohamed Salah, who joined Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, and midfielder Wataru Endo, who is with the Japanese side for the Asian Cup.
Star defender and captain, Virgil van Dijk, was also out of action due to illness.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Andrew Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Joel Matip are also on the injury list.
"That's a really good football team we missed. Football is like that. Sometimes you have them all available, it's pretty rare, and sometimes you don't have them available. I'm super-happy," Klopp told reporters.
"First half you could see it didn't click. It was not because of new players or whatever, it was just the timing was bad and that doesn't help.
"I said to the boys in the meeting before the game: humans are like that. It's a tough game, nobody comes to Arsenal and wins just like this (clicks fingers)."
Liverpool, who have already qualified for the League Cup semi-finals and Europa League round of 16, knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup courtesy an own goal by Jakub Kiwior and Luis Diaz's strike in injury time.
"The boys enjoyed the game, at least in the second half. Staying in a game that looked in the first half like that, then growing into a game, is a pretty special thing to do. Especially an away game," the German said.
Liverpool’s next match is against Fulham at home in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday.
