Klopp blasts sloppy Liverpool, Everton savour first win at Anfield since 1999
LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp slammed Liverpool’s sloppy defending ater Everton won at Anfield for the first time since 1999 with a 2-0 victory in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.
Klopp’s side were punished for mistakes at the back by Ozan Kabak and Trent Alexander-arnold.
Kabak was caught out by Richarlison for Everton’s third minute opener and Alexander-arnold conceded the 83rd minute penalty converted by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Liverpool have lost four successive leagues games at Anfield for the first time since 1923 and Reds boss Klopp had no excuses for the troubled champions’ latest flop.
“It is (tough to take) but we conceded this early goal which was completely unnecessary and have to defend it beter,” he said.
Klopp was also frustrated by Liverpool’s failure to take the chances that came their way in a typically frantic derby.
“We had to chase the game and did it well creative wise, we created some in the first half and even more in the second half but we did not finish our situations off,” he said.
“We made one mistake in the first half and they used it, I don’t like to talk today about the good stuff because we lose the game and we feel that deeply, I have to use it tomorrow and it is our lifeline to keep going.
“We have to improve on the finishing stuff and then we will win football games.”
Missing out on Champions League qualification would be an incredible fall from grace ater they won the title for the first time in 30 years last term.
“Decisive margins, to score a goal you have to create a situation and finish it off,” Klopp said.
Liverpool have now lost four in a row in the league and sit three points adrit of the top four ater a first defeat against Everton since 2010.
“I am very pleased for the club and the supporters. I hope for sure that they are going to celebrate tonight. It was a good performance. A lot of fight and spirit. I am really happy,” Anceloti said, with an uncharacteristic post-match smile the only indication of his delight.
But perhaps Anceloti’s calm was understandable — while Everton fans have waited 20 matches to win against their rivals and nearly 21 years to enjoy success at Anfield, the Italian has made a habit of beating the Reds.
In 16 games against Liverpool, Anceloti’s various teams have enjoyed eight victories and only five defeats. Before Saturday’s derby win, Anceloti had already beaten Liverpool with AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Napoli.
It is a record that clearly provided some additional confidence to his players.
“When you have a world class manager in the dugout, you fully believe in these games, he spoke about how he did for Napoli,” said veteran captain Seamus Coleman.
“It’s an amazing feeling, ater coming here all those years and leting ourselves and more importantly leting the blue side of the city down,” said Coleman.