New Straits Times

STAYS POSITIVE

Liverpool boss looks on bright side despite disappoint­ing draw

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LONDON games, we can do whatever we want.

“I’m happy about big parts of the performanc­e. I’m really proud of the attitude. Everything was good until Willian crossed the ball.

“The world is in a strange, crazy place at the moment and there are much more important, crazy things that are happening. I can easily live with a point against Chelsea.”

Willian struck two minutes after coming on for Davide Zappacosta, drifting across the box from left to right before lifting a cross towards the back post that dropped beneath the crossbar.

Klopp had been trying to send on the fit-again Adam Lallana in order to change to a back three and said he was mystified by referee Michael Oliver’s initial refusal to allow the change to take place.

“In my mind, Ragnar Klavan would have been in exactly the position where Willian crossed the ball,” Klopp said.

“That means we would have blocked the cross. So you don’t feel too good when the ref doesn’t allow you to change the system because he thinks maybe it’s time play (wasting) or something. I’ve no idea why he said no.”

Klopp said Chelsea had played more defensivel­y than he had expected and summarised their approach as: “Deep defending and giving the ball to Eden Hazard.”

But Chelsea manager Antonio Conte felt his team had “dominated” the second half and said Liverpool’s goal — tucked away by Salah following a loose touch by Tiemoue Bakayoko — had also been fortunate.

Asked if Willian’s lob had been deliberate, Conte smiled and said: “It’s not important. It was important to score.

“But at the same time I think that we conceded the first goal in

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