Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Zlatan saves Man Utd but bemoans mistakes
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic admits Manchester United made “simple mistakes” despite rescuing a late 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Old Trafford.
James Milner slotted home a first-half penalty for the Reds before Ibrahimovic levelled with six minutes remaining to secure a share of the spoils.
The draw extended United’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 games but the Red Devils saw their nine-game winning streak in all competitions come to an end.
Liverpool are still searching for their first win of 2017 but the point did move Jurgen Klopp’s side up to third, level on points with second-placed Tottenham and seven adrift of leaders Chelsea.
Ibrahimovic said: “We get one point but we were not on the top of our game.
“It was a hard fight, we were 1-0 down and we chased and, at the end, we got the equaliser.
“We did simple mistakes. We were not feeling comfortable under the pressure of the opponent and I think we played the wrong way.
“If we would have played like we did in the second half in the first half it would have been a different game.
“We were more direct (in the second half).
“We did too many mistakes in our build-up (in the first half).”
Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, cut a frustrated figure after claiming Manchester United’s l ong-ball tactics cost Liverpool three points in a “wild” derby.
“We needed to be brave, we created the spaces we wanted, we scored the goal,” Klopp said.
“In the end period of the game when United started playing long balls to Marouane Fellaini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after 80 minutes of high intense football, it is really hard.
“It is so intense. They play long balls, it was a wild game. There was a lot of action i n t he last few minutes.”
Klopp’s opposite number, Jose Mourinho was coy on the spot-kick conceded by Pogba.
The United manager had few arguments about referee Michael Oliver’s overall display but used the penalty as a chance to make a point of his own.
“I don’t know, I didn’t watch,” he said. “But the referee was very close, so probably it is a penalty.
“I have to believe that was a penalty and I am happy for the referee if it was a penalty because his record for us this season is three matches, three penalties against. So if this time it was a penalty, I am happy for Michael.”