Rubin boss: We proved we are better than Chelsea

It never arrived, with the lively Milner hitting the bar in the first half, and seeing a shot saved later, which was also the fate of Can and Firmino as the chances kept coming. Their defence might not be rock solid but one thing that Liverpool can do now is complete, there seems to be a hunger and desire about their game, something which was amiss at the start of the season under Brendan Rodgers.

And the manager said that he “only builds teams or squads to win the game” and not to “give someone a rest if he doesn’t need it” – which is how he assessed the fixture in Russian Federation.

“He’s a great manager, I’m delighted to be working with him”, he said ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash at home to Crystal Palace. “He’s showing me new things in training and obviously training is different now so I’m learning”.

“I think we played much better tonight and that’s normal because we’ve had four weeks together – we have more experience together”.

“There is a huge belief and confidence within the group and that feeling of scoring goals and winning games, you want to keep it”, revealed the Belgian.

Liverpool’s side lacks pace in wide areas to support the attack.

This wasn’t his only display of sheer joy over Ibe’s goal. “It’s even good for those players who can’t play in this moment to see how we work”.

Klopp has made no secret of the fact he wants to promote youngsters into his first team, and Ibe doesn’t turn 20 until December, but he showed a maturity here in a spectacular return to form after struggling for most of this season. Klopp has operated with three central midfielders in each of his five games in charge of Liverpool. It is good for physical condition and it is good to talk about after games. Alternatively, a rather more straightforward training agreement between player and club might allow Gerrard to help with coaching and Klopp is still considering whether he needs a former player to supplement his staff.

He said this week that next year could be his last as a player. Ibe needed just a few simple instructions to get him back on track, and is now having an impact whether it’s from the bench as at Chelsea, or with his impressive victor at Rubin Kazan. AFP PHOTO / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEVKIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds supporters after the UEFA Europa League group B football match between FC Rubin Kazan and Liverpool FC in Kazan on November 5, 2015. Spurs had a free kick that was taken short, Christian Eriksen played Kane through with and he duly found the back of the net after the away side went to sleep temporarily. Instead, Ibe is firmly heading in the right direction.