by James Nalton
at Anfield

JURGEN KLOPP made no excuses for his side’s League Cup exit at the hands of Southampton, but said that the increasing number of decisions against his side were becoming difficult to take.

Speaking after the home tie of their two-legged clash against the south coast side, Klopp praised the opposition, but was also disgruntled.

“Congratulations to Southampton. They won both legs and deserve to be in the final,” said the German, whose side lost 2-0 on aggregate.

“[Shane] Long’s handball was clear. I don’t want to make excuses but it is really hard to accept these things week by week by week.

“A big game against Manchester United and they are two or three yards offside [in the build-up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s equalising goal] and nobody speaks about it.”

Claude Puel, meanwhile, was in a jovial mood as he looked forward to his side’s trip to Wembley.

“It is fantastic. I am happy for all the squad because they have worked so hard since the beginning of the season and with games every three days it has been very difficult,” he said.

“I am happy for the staff, the players and the fans, who were fantastic. It is a great reward but it is not finished. It is exciting and fantastic to go to Wembley but we are not going just to participate, it is important we win the final.”

Puel’s side were able to grab an injury-time winner through Long which put the tie beyond doubt as Liverpool pushed forward in an attempt to equalise on aggregate.