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Cape Town - Jurgen Klopp believes his Liverpool team were unlucky to lose out to Manchester City in Sunday's Capital One Cup final at Wembley.
The Reds fought back from a goal down to force extra time and penalties thanks to Philippe Coutinho's 83rd-minute equaliser after Fernandinho had opened the scoring for City.
Klopp's men showed a lot of grit and determination to haul themselves back onto level terms but a penalty shootout proved a bridge too far as City goalkeeper Willy Caballero stole the show to help Manuel Pellegrini's men to a 3-1 shootout win.
"We are disappointed but I'm pleased with a lot things I saw in the game," Klopp said. "It was even in the first-half with moments on our side and moments on their side.
"In the second half we conceded the goal, but then we tried everything and scored the equaliser. They had a few counter-attacks and we were too open in one or two situations, but we were back in the game.
"We had a big chance with Divock and a couple of other situations too. It's unlucky, but it's one way to lose in a cup final. It doesn't matter how, so we are disappointed."
The 48-year-old believed that neither team had produced their best performance and added that the Reds had to take the result on the chin and recover quickly.
"I don't think we did [play as well as we could], but I don't think Man City played to their best either," said the German. "That's how it is, and you have to take what you get.
"It was good enough to win this game, because we should not concede the goal. It was not perfect defending, and from that angle it should not be a goal. Everybody knows this, but that's how it is.
"These things happen and you have to strike back, and that's what we did. We had our chances, and we played well in a lot of moments.
"You can fall down, but you have to stand up and we have the next chance on Wednesday against Man City again. It's another game and another tournament, and we have to carry on. We can't change this game now."
