Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool's 7-2 defeat at Villa was like a punch in the face

Reds manager hoping for a return to form in Merseyside derby

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp looks dejected during Liverpool's 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa on October 4. Reuters

Jack Grealish celebrates scoring their sixth goal with Ross Barkley, John McGinn and Trezeguet. Reuters

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Adrian look on as Ross Barkley shoots wide for Villa. EPA

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring against Liverpool. PA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, right, scores his side's opening goal. AP

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's opening goal. AP

Ollie Watkins, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal. EPA

Villa midfielder John McGinn, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal. AFP

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal. AP

Ollie Watkins, second right,celebrates with team mates after scoring his third, and Villa's fourth, goal. EPA

Villa's Ollie Watkins after his hat-trick. EPA

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk looks dejected after Villa scored their seventh goal. Reuters

Aston Villa's Ross Barkley, centre, celebrates with his teammates after scoring Villa's fifth. Getty

Salah celebrates after scoring his side's second goal. AP

Aston Villa's Jack Grealish celebrates scoring their seventh goal. Reuters

Mohamed Salah, centre, and James Milner, left, look dejected after conceding the seventh goal at Villa. Reuters

Mohamed Salah had a tough night despite scoring twice. Getty

Ollie Watkins with the match ball alongside Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. Reuters

Liverpool's goalkeeper Adrian, left, makes a save from Ollie Watkins. AP

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp fist bumps Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins after the match at Villa Park. PA

Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins fist bump in front of the big screen displaying the remarkable scoreline. PA

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said the team's 7-2 Premier League defeat by Aston Villa was like a punch to the face and could prove to be their most important game this season.

A stunned Klopp said the league champions lost the plot in their defeat at Villa Park before the international break, but the German backed his players to respond in Saturday's Merseyside derby against league leaders Everton.

"Maybe after all the positive things that happened to us, it needed a proper knock in the middle of our face to shake us through," Klopp said.

"That's the way I take it," he said. "There's no other reason why 7-2 should be good. If it was for that, it could have been the most important game of the season, so that's why we try to use it and we'll see.

"The challenge in this situation is that you don't want the players to be affected or influenced in the next game. You want a confident team. You don't want a team that looks like it's got heads down, but you don't want to forget the game as well."

Saturday marks 10 years to the day since Everton last beat Liverpool in the derby. Carlo Ancelotti's side will fancy their chances, having won their opening four league games, but Klopp said Liverpool will be at their best again.

"The perfect shape that maybe Everton were in before the international break is not automatically there and the problems we had at Villa aren't automatically there," Klopp said.

"We're a team that people don't like to play against, whoever they are. It will be the same for Everton."