Jürgen Klopp accepted he has a challenge on his hands to find some balance in Liverpool's forward line as he lauded Philippe Coutinho's impactful return from injury.
The Brazilian took no time at all to attune himself despite a five-week lay-off with a hamstring injury, as he produced the kind of magic his teammates had desperately missed in his absence at West Ham in the FA Cup earlier in the week.
Having emerged from the interval trailing 1-0, Coutinho's rolling free-kick underneath the Hammers' wall smartly brought Liverpool level - although they ultimately went out courtesy of a last-gap extra-time winner for the hosts at the Boleyn Ground.
But Klopp took encouragement from the Reds' No.10's impression, insisting that his "really cool" equaliser demonstrates just how important Coutinho can be for his team.
Klopp speaks highly of returning Coutinho
"It was one of the smartest free-kicks in football history," the German told journalists at Melwood as he previewed his side's trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, saying that you "don't see it too often" and labelling it a "really cool" moment.
He said that an in-form, "in good shape" Coutinho could walk into the starting eleven of most clubs in the world, insisting: "I don't know the names of too many teams in the world where he would not play."
Klopp referred to the fact that the attacking midfielder had "two, not too long, but long-term injuries" which kept him out for four to five weeks and said this, "in the middle of the season is not too easy" and he needs time to "come back into his rhythm" which the backroom staff will "try to help him on."
The manager acknowledged that Coutinho is a player who "can make the difference in a game" but said that he can't do it alone, insisting it's "not only about quality, it's about physical possibilities at the right moment" and explained that it's "not possible that he's at 100 per cent, but he's in a good way" which is "good news" for them.
We won't go that attacking again, Klopp explains
The 23-year-old's spectacular set-piece triggered a reversal in the momentum of Tuesday's game as Liverpool stole the upper hand and repeatedly pushed for a decisive second goal.
So much so, Klopp opted to introduce Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge, handing them their returns from injuries, to bolster the away side's forward line that already boasted Christian Benteke and Jordon Ibe.
With their returns opening up a wealth of options for Klopp to think about, having recently turned to Roberto Firmino as an auxiliary striker, the boss explained how he will look to accommodate his best attacking players into one team.
"It was a risky formation," Klopp admitted, explaining the line-up which almost saw Origi and Ibe on either flank, with Sturridge dropping slightly deep to almost act as a support striker for Benteke, adding they only had "Pedro Chirivella and a limping Kevin Stewart" as their defending midfielders.
He clarified his choice to go so forward-thinking was because they "wanted to win the game" and "saw the chance to do it" but told journalists it's not "a likely line-up" in the league.
The Reds boss said that this was because "you need balance and rhythm in your game" and said they "cannot force it" by bringing "all of your strikers and hoping that one of them will score a goal" because that's "not how it works" despite the formation being "OK" for "this game."
There is the possibility that Sturridge and Benteke could be tried again as a strike partnership, having only played 45 minutes together so far this season, with Klopp saying that they "can play together" as well as Sturridge and Origi, who showed they "can play together" in the 6-1 away win at Southampton.
But Klopp was giving nothing away to the media, insisting that whatever he goes with up-front will always be what they "need" for "a special opponent."
Firmino still an option, says Klopp
And Klopp still has the possibility of being able to call upon Firmino as a false nine, with the Brazilian having applied some much-needed goalscoring threat with five in his last six appearances.
The No.11's form hasn't gone unnoticed with his January efforts seeing him rewarded with the Professional Footballers' Association's Fans' Player of the Month award - and Klopp is pleased by the fact Firmino is demonstrating the best of his talents.
He declared that the £29 million summer signing is "a good player" and there is "no doubt" about his quality, saying that it is positive to now have four strikers after having none just a few weeks ago.
On his selection process, Klopp said it's "not about satisfying a single player" but said his focus must be on finding "a stable formation" because they "always create chances" but don't "score often enough" and have "conceded a few too many goals."
He added that a lot of Liverpool's players are now "in good shape" and said they "have to try to use this" but called it a "good" challenge to have to try and find a formation, adding that Firmino is "much more stable" and has "much more consistency in his performances" than a few months ago because he's "showing what he's capable of" which is "good for all of us," according to the boss.