Unai Emery told the media after his side’s latest Anfield defeat that he’s obviously not happy but he is optimistic.

You don’t need me to remind you of the final score but there were also brightspots to be found in the game and while I may not have agreed with Emery’s tactics, at least he seemed to have some that the players were aware of and were trying to execute.

In short, we looked like we are developing some sort of a clue.

“Really I’m disappointed with the result,” Emery said. “It’s the first analysis we can do but after 90 minutes we did different situations with the players, tactically and spiritually. I think the team showed in one moment good character and it’s one step ahead we want to do. The result means we’re not happy today, but we can be optimistic for another situation.”

Last season we, of course, lost 5-1 so this was progress if you want to look at it that way.

But defensive mistakes were still evident.

“Yeah, but for example in the first half we were very deep defensively because they used their two wingers and they were giving the ball close to our box,” Emery explained. “But we were thinking it could be an opportunity to play in the match with Pepe and Auba.

“Also, our moment was in the transition and they are two very strong players to do that. We made two or three chances to score and these were from moments when they were pushing in our box with a lot of crosses. It’s not all we wanted to do in the match because we wanted to keep the ball and keep possession better, but their pressing was very strong and we didn’t break their pressing of the ball as much as we wanted. But we had the possibility in the match to show our moment and to score and the result can be closer to us. They finished the first half 1-0 and in the second half the key was the penalty.

“I think it was soft [it wasn’t – Ed] and I think usually it’s not enough for holding, but it was decided like that and we continued in our way. We opened more and they gave us more space to keep the ball and to keep possession for attacks against them – and in the transition they are a very strong team. That’s how they scored their third goal.

“It was in this moment we needed to show something different, not frustration, not going down, and keep our moment in the match and hold our moment. It was a bad result but we are working for progress.

“I think we showed character and also the impact from Lucas Torreira with Alex Lacazette and Micki was good. Also some players today made one step ahead like Willock, and I also think it was a good match for Pepe and Matteo.

“Ceballos today struggled more than last week, but this is one more experience for him. We need to be realistic but also confident in each training and the next match.

“Now we need to show how we can be different with other teams. Really, I think now we have reduced the difference with Liverpool over the 90 minutes. We’ve reduced the difference from last year, but at the moment it’s not enough.

“I think we can be positive.”