Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says 'people were waiting for us to slip again' in their clash with RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
The Reds entered the Champions League last-16 first leg having lost their last three Premier League games.
But Klopp was delighted to see his players respond with a 2-0 win in Budapest
"It was the game we wanted, the game we needed," said Klopp. "Leipzig can be a real monster, they overrun teams, they are really physical and tonight we controlled them in an exceptional way. We played a really good game and we got the result we deserved.
"We defended really well and had good recovery. It was a tough game with only two days since the last one. It's only the first leg, we know that but a lot of people were waiting for us to slip again.
"For two years we were really good and this year we have problems, that's fine. A lot of people expected us to slip again but the boys didn't."
