Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Nottingham Forest while reflecting on his side’s journey to the FA Cup final.

In an interview with the club’s official website, the German was reminded of his team’s path to Wembley.

While looking back on the previous rounds, Klopp highlighted the difficult game Liverpool faced when competing with Steve Cooper’s side.

The 54-year old praised the team’s intensity and the home atmosphere at the City Ground for the occasion.

Liverpool won the game to earn a place in the semi-finals, with a 78th minute Diogo Jota strike separating the sides for a 1-0 victory.

It ended a great FA Cup run that had seen Forest knock out the holders Leicester City and the 14 times winners of the competition Arsenal.

Klopp was pleased with how his side managed the game despite the busy schedule his team faced during that period.

“Nottingham, for example, was absolutely incredibly difficult,” said Klopp, via the club’s website.

“We knew it before. Nottingham obviously flying under Steve Cooper, playing a super season, maybe didn’t start that well but then since Steve is there. 

“Then you go there in the middle of, I don’t know which games we had, knowing we have to win each Premier League [game] and these kind of things, and going there, making changes...

“It was my first game at Nottingham, incredible atmosphere, so all these kind of things. 

“It’s typical FA Cup. Away games in the cup competitions are really tough because the people really make some special stuff.”

 

 

While the FA Cup final takes place this evening, Forest also have an important knockout game of their own.

Cooper’s side visit Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final, with kick-off taking place at 3pm.

The Verdict

It was a great FA Cup run for Forest at a time when they were also flying high in the league.

Cooper’s team really announced themselves as potential promotion candidates with their performances against Arsenal and Leicester.

In this run, the team also showed that they are more than capable of competing in the Premier League should they win the play-offs.

But Paul Heckingbottom’s side will prove a tricky team to get past in order to earn a trip to Wembley of their own.