Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he's "very excited" about his team but isn't getting carried away about their Premier League title prospects.
The Reds moved to within a point of leaders and champions Manchester City on Wednesday evening with a 2-0 win against Arsenal at the Emirates. Second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino was enough to clinch a nervy victory for Klopp's side.
"I'm very excited about and the team and the situation we are in but that does not change everything," said the German coach when asked about his team's title prospects. "We just need to keep going.
"I saw a hard-working team in the first half and in the second half we enjoyed it more and that was when we really stepped up. We really want to enjoy the situation we are in by winning football matches. It's tough. We keep the right mindset for it."
Liverpool have now won nine consecutive Premier League games. "We’ve obviously had a good period, it’s what we need," added Klopp. "We're one point [behind], but it's still the same. We have to win football matches.
"We then face City, then all the others. Hopefully all the players come back fit from international duty [in March]. Then we have an early kick-off against Watford. It’s better to be one point behind than 14 points.
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"The only thing I’m really interested in is how we can prepare for the next game, how we can get through this. It’s so difficult – I think it’s game number 13 since we met Arsenal in the Carabao Cup [in January]. For them it's seven - that's six more games for us. We don’t complain about it, we wanted it like this. Let’s see how it goes.
"In 10 years, do you think somebody will say you should be proud [of finishing second]? Probably not. We know we have a special group here and we’re trying to squeeze everything we can out of the situation."
On the performance against Arsenal, Klopp noted: "Coming here and winning against Arsenal is already [hard] but winning the game like it was - more special. We started really well then it became an open game.
"Both teams were patient and our possession was not as good. We had too many on the wrong side of the ball. We need to find moments to pass the ball through. They had spells as well and we had to work hard. We wanted to improve in the second half. We defended higher in the second half and was much more front-footed. In that moment the whole game changed really."
Firmino, the scorer of Liverpool's second goal, made his first Premier League appearance in over a month against the Gunners. "Really happy for [Firmino]," said Klopp. Unfortunately he got a yellow card for celebrating and there were so many tackles that I was like 'omg' and it was a bit nervy! But I understand why he did it."
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