Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that his side were fortunate to beat West Ham.
A goal from Sadio Mane in the 27th minute proved sufficient as Liverpool secured a 1-0 win at Anfield to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City to three points.
However, Klopp acknowledged that there were periods in the game when Liverpool were very fortunate defensively as they struggled to cope with the attacking threat provided by West Ham.
Speaking after the game, Klopp told Sky Sports: 'I don’t know if we will remember this game as one of the most important. A tricky fixture but we did really well in the first half. We know about all the different things West Ham are really good at, and in the first half we denied them in all these situations.
'We could’ve scored more, we didn’t and then the game is open. Massive chance for Bowen, it was the first time we didn’t defend Antonio properly, but that was then the (game on) for them, they didn’t have to defend differently, they had to be direct. Antonio used his body well and around the second balls we were not as good.
'I told the boys in after the game if you are not well organised you have to defend with passion and that’s what we did.'
West Ham had inviting opportunities to score, with Pablo Fornals and Manuel Lanzini missing good chances.
Klopp continued: 'First chance Ali (Alisson) was calm, Trent cleared the situation. But this situation is a good example, people say we defend with a high line, but there was no pressure on the ball at all, we still had a high line and forgot completely Fornals, and that’s obviously not how you defend. But the other situations were different. We lost the challenges and they were really there, had their big chances.
'We were lucky in these moments, but you can’t win the number of games the boys have in the last few weeks without stressing a bit of luck.'
Klopp praised West Ham, who are competing to secure a top four finish. However, the German was simply pleased to have taken all three points from a difficult fixture.
He said: 'Absolutely happy with the result. I know we can do much better but not today. You have to bring this game over the line and we did that. It’s not a coincidence they are around the Champions League spots.
'The way they played today they didn’t need Rice, because they just chipped the balls in the last line and we had to defend that better, but today Antonio was in a lot of moments in a better position and that’s why they had their moments. But it’s all fine, it’s over the line, that’s good.
'I think the set pieces, I cant remember a proper dangerous situation from them. But you have to defend always with passion but when the organisation doesn’t work, so Robbo was there twice, Trent got the ball off the line, that’s as important as any other thing on the pitch like, scoring a goal. So it’s all good.'
Liverpool have 11 games remaining in the Premier League this season, while they are also still in contention in the Champions League and the FA Cup.
Klopp's side secured their first silverware of the season last weekend as they beat Chelsea on penalties in the Carabao Cup final, and they will be determined for further glory before the conclusion of the campaign.