Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool have what it takes to advance past Borussia Dortmund to the last four of the Europa League after securing an impressive 1-1 away draw in the first leg of their semifinal clash.
The Reds came into the game at the Westfalenstadion as underdogs but took the lead in the first half after Divock Origi opened the scoring for the visitors.
Dortmund responded straight after the break through a Mats Hummels header, but a composed display at the back for Liverpool saw them nullify their opponents from there on in to claim the draw.
"Dortmund is a pretty good side and everyone could see that but we had our moments and we could have won the game," Klopp told BT Sport after the match.
"I'm pretty sure a lot of people thought we would lose two, three or 4-0. But at some moments we had Dortmund and around our goal we were brilliant.
"We are not that far on our way like they are and we cannot at the moment play like they play, but we can defend and score goals so we can win [the second leg]."
Klopp was returning to his former club Dortmund for the first time since leaving last summer after a seven-year spell that brought with it two Bundesliga titles, a DFB Pokal and a Champions League final.
On the reception he received from the Dortmund fans, Klopp said: "It was nice. A lot of people spoke about it but when I came onto the pitch it was respectful applause and that's nice. That's how it should be."
The German applauded both sets of fans after the game.
"Of course this was an unusual situation with everything around the game, it was different than we were used to," he said in his news conference. "There was applause which I took for me and I made a small gesture in return. The people here are very special and I felt good coming back, it's a special place to come to."
Klopp opted to start Origi up front ahead of Daniel Sturridge and his faith was repaid after the Belgian's opener, while the forward could well have made it two on the stroke of half-time.
"Today was a big game. At a big club you have responsibilities. Everybody tried to help me so I am happy to score," Origi, who netted his first goal since February, told BT Sport.
"It is a huge boost for us to produce a performance like this. It is promising for the next game."
The Reds boss said in his news conference that playing Origi was a fairly straightforward decision which fitted his game-plan.
"I don't really understand questions like this because you have to try to imagine where you can have some small advantages and that's what we did -- it was nothing about Daniel," Klopp said.
"He has played the last games, it is completely normal. I know people say things about me taking him from the pitch after 60 minutes but it is completely normal and now he is fresh for the game against Stoke.
"When Daniel came on he immediately had a brilliant moment, it was outstanding, so you could see the impact he had and I cannot say we played better with Divock ahead of Daniel.
"It was not too brave to put Divock to be honest. He has had no rhythm because of injuries. He is a young lad and we have to work with him. Divock was made for this game with the space he can make and how he can hold the ball."
Klopp also said he was happy to have an away goal above all else.
"I think we saw the game is still 50-50 and Dortmund don't care too much about where they are playing or where they score a goal," he said. "They are still a very strong team but people thought a lot about our possible performance so they are perhaps a little surprised now.
"An away goal is really good, 100 percent better than a 0-0."
Hummels equalised with a header after beating Adam Lallana to a quickly taken short corner but Klopp shouldered the blame for that.
"We did it really well, we scored a wonderful goal," he said. "Then a set-piece. Yes that's how it is in football -- a fault for all of us. I decided to have Adam Lallana in this position instead of Origi, so sorry for this.
"But we were still in the game and our really big chances after, it really fell into an almost perfect performance."
Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren added: "We knew it would be a tough game. They kept the ball really well. We had a couple of chances to kill them but it is a good result for us.
"We need to do even better at Anfield. I am satisfied for today. It was a great job from everyone today. We had great discipline in defence with all 11 players."
Information from Press Association was used in this report.