KLOPP CRACKS
Liverpool boss is feeling the strain as his defensive flops blow it again
FRUSTRATED Jurgen Klopp cracked under the pressure of another poor result as he moaned at a reporter: “It’s not fair.”
Liverpool were made to pay for missed chances at St James’ Park and have now won just once in seven games, falling seven points behind the league leaders.
A visibly rattled Klopp said he was “disappointed, frustrated, whatever you want” then hit out when asked if the result was fair.
He snapped: “Fair result? We scored once and Newcastle scored once. Was it the first game you saw? We created five or six outstanding, big chances. Usually we score with one of them. I didn’t see one more chance for Newcastle.
“They got one chance and scored. That doesn’t feel too fair.
“We had a clear penalty. I don’t know what he has to do – pull the shirt off him?
“We were the more active side and created more chances. I thought we should have won.
“Philippe Coutinho scores the goal of the month. We made one mistake, 1-1. We are in promising situations and we don’t score. It won’t stay like this. There will be one day when the mouth opens and maybe we will score more than one time.”
Despite blaming bad luck Klopp admitted his team must improve or fall 10 points behind Manchester United, whom they host a week on Saturday.
The German said: “We have to play better next game or we won’t get a point. We need to work on our thing but I really think we are not far away.”
Rafa Benitez frustrated his old club with a battling point and said he was “happy” with Newcastle’s start to the season.
The Magpies boss claims hard work and organisation has got them off to a decent start on their top-flight return.
He said: “The lads did a great job and maybe with a bit more composure we could have had another goal. It could have been an even better start but I don’t want to be greedy.”
Asked Newcastle have improved if since the opening day he said: “They are working very hard every day but there is still plenty of room for improvement.” Early on Liverpool looked ready to tear Newcastle apart with Coutinho prompting from midfield. The Brazilian’s 23rd minute corner found Georginio Wijnaldum and his shot hit the post, Dejan Lovren saw his shot blocked on the line and Sadio Mane fired wide at the back post. It was a real let off. Four minutes later, the Reds were ahead. Coutinho burst forward and curled a brilliant 20-yard shot past home keeper Rob Elliot. But just when you thought Liverpool would run away with it, the Magpies levelled thanks to more crazy defending. The Anfield side have kept just two clean sheets all season. You can see what’s going wrong.
Jonjo Shelvey released Joselu who raced through but Joel Matip slid into a tackle and the ball deflected in off the Spaniard. It was an incredible piece of luck for the 36th-minute leveller.
Liverpool could then have had a penalty when Ciaran Clark pulled Lovren to the ground. After the break Daniel Sturridge and Mohamed Salah both wasted chances for the Reds.
Joe Gomez was given a yellow card for a tackle on Newcastle’s Christian Atsu. On another day it could have been red.
Liverpool substitute Dominic Solanke’s 84th-minute header hit the outside of a post before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain headed over from close range with three minutes left. ALEXIS SANCHEZ came up with the party piece as Arsene Wenger celebrated his 21st anniversary at Arsenal by insisting “nothing is permanent”.
The Frenchman admits he was tempted to quit as Gunners boss before signing a new two-year deal in the summer.
And he came under more fire following the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Liverpool before the last international break.
But there was not a hint of tension in the air at the Emirates as Wenger shook hands with Brighton boss Chris Hughton.
The Gunners are unbeaten in seven games and this mundane win – enlivened by the Chilean’s backheel to set up the second goal – took them level with Chelsea and a point behind Tottenham.
This was Arsenal’s 11th consecutive home win in all competitions and Wenger said: “Our last international break was a nightmare, this one will be a bit better.”
He was also philosophical about his latest landmark after taking over in north London on October 1, 1996.
Wenger said: “When you are 21 years in a job you know you have good and bad moments. No one can make 21 years and only fly.
“Nothing is permanent. You’re not bad in a permanent way, you can do something about it.”
So are Arsenal back in the title race? Wenger added: “Too early. Seven games played, 31 to go.”
Alexandre Lacazette had hit the post and Shane Duffy cleared off the line before Nacho Monreal opened the scoring after 16 minutes.
And Sanchez provided a touch of class for the second after 56 minutes when his backheel set up Alex Iwobi for his first goal of the season.
Iwobi said: “I didn’t think Alexis would find me but it shows the skill he has. To have eyes in the back of his head and backheel to me was amazing.”