Klopp blaming United results for form loss

JURGEN Klopp cited the impact of damaging results against rivals Manchester United after Liverpool’s recent loss of momentum in the title race.

The Reds lost more ground at the top of the Premier League as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace yesterday.

It capped a highly frustrating week for the Merseysiders after a draw at United last weekend and a humbling Europa League loss to Atalanta on Thursday.

Klopp, however, pinpointed another result at Old Trafford – the dramatic FA Cup loss that ended Liverpool’s quadruple bid last month – as where they started to run out of steam.

The German said: “I think the problem is, a little bit, that I’m not 100% sure that, in general, how we dealt with the United games helped.

“We lost the game in the cup and it was like a catastrophe because we were that good and lost it anyway. Then we drew there, but were really good for a long spell. We have conceded a little bit.

“That’s now not the reason for today, the problems we had in the United games were completely different to the things we had today, but obviously we expected a reaction. We lost in that (United) game more than only the game. It didn’t help.”

Klopp felt his side were not at their best against Palace, who had a strong start and took a 14th-minute lead through Eberechi Eze.

The hosts still created chances, particularly second half, only to be thwarted by poor finishing or stubborn defending.

Palace’s victory was only their second in seven matches under new boss Oliver Glasner but it eased their fears of being sucked into a relegation battle.

Glasner said: “It is a fantastic win and congratulations to the team for the performance.

“We had a fantastic goalkeeper today in Dean (Henderson) and an outstanding passion today to defend as a team. That is the reason we kept the clean sheet and won.”