CONTRASTING

City.

While Klopp defended his team’s display, his comments indicated he does not consider his side to be on United’s level.

“For me today, one team who can become champions this year was in our stadium and is not a world apart from us,” the German told his post-match press conference.

“It’s not that we are playing different planets and they are really good and we do not find the entrance to the stadium.”

Liverpool spurned two big chances, firstly in the first half when David de Gea saved sharply from Joel Matip and Mohamed Salah put the rebound wide and then in the second when Joe Gomez crossed for Emre Can to volley over.

Klopp felt Philippe Coutinho should have been given a penalty for a trip by Ander Herrera on the hour.

He also claimed Romelu Lukaku could have seen red for catching Dejan Lovren’s face with his boot during a first-half tangle, although replays suggested the contact was accidental.

Liverpool have now won just once in eight matches in all competitions and Klopp complained their poor recent run was prejudicing the media’s perception of their performance against United.

“Maybe we didn’t create enough chances, but the problem is that everything you ask is always underlined with negatives,” he said.

“That is how it is with our situation. If we had won the last five games...

“Today we created enough chances to win the game. We should have had a penalty, maybe a red card, but we didn’t. You can write whatever you want.”

He added: “If you watched the game and have an idea about football, you can’t expect that we create many chances against Manchester United. It is simply not possible. Barcelona are the best. They would not do it.

“The season is not over. The main thing you have to do during a season is to develop and to perform. That is what we do. So far we didn’t get enough for it.” AFP