Jurgen Klopp seems like he is slowly planting the seeds for a rejuvenated Liverpool to blossom in the future, but the German coach acknowledged on 18 March that it is a fragile process. T

he five-time European champions have not won a major trophy since they lifted the 2012 League Cup, but a Europa League last-16 victory over bitter rivals Manchester United on 17 March showed the team's self-belief is slowly growing under Klopp.

"The problem with confidence is a little bit, I'm not sure if I've said it before, it's a little flower and if you step on it it's away in a second. It's much more difficult to let it grow than to let it die," he told a news conference ahead of the Premier League match against Southampton on Sunday 20 March.

"Of course it's not only about confidence, it's more about feeling more and more trust in our way of play," added Klopp, who was wearing a Beatles T-shirt as he addressed the media.

Klopp, who took over in October after Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers, wants his players to reproduce the high-tempo performance they showed over two legs against United on a more consistent basis. "We have to carry on this way, to play like this. How I said before the game yesterday: yes we are a possession team but we are a team for an intensive style, we need this, we are not a low rhythm team, we need a high rhythm," he said.

Liverpool's victory over Manchester United subsequently set up a nightmare tie for the German as his side were drawn to meet his former club Borussia Dortmund in next month's quarter-finals.

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