Lopetegui on the brink as Suarez rips into Real

Neil Warnock, the Cardiff City manager, said it was impossible to get a result at Anfield.

It was a typical exaggeration, but his team’s approach showed he knew what he was talking about.

The gulf in class should not put pressure on Warnock, but increase the appreciation of his work getting Cardiff up. They are one of the most limited teams to have played in the Premier League.

There is no way of writing that without it sounding derogatory, but it is true.

To enjoy seven minutes between Paterson and Shaqiri’s goal when a point was not inconceivable was a small triumph, even if it strangely assisted Liverpool as the hosts responded to reduce City’s goal lead to seven.

“The next game is away at Arsenal,” Klopp said. “I don’t think we will worry about how many goals we will score, we just have to get a result there.” Julen Lopetegui insists he can turn Real Madrid’s season around despite increased speculation he will today be replaced as manager by Antonio Conte after a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in El Clasico.

A hat-trick from Luis Suarez and goals from Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal condemned Real to a heavy defeat at the Nou Camp and leaves them ninth in La Liga, seven points behind leaders Barcelona.

Reports in Spain suggest Lopetegui could depart today, with former Chelsea manager Conte favourite to take over.

Speaking after his side’s fifth defeat in seven competitive games, Lopetegui said: “I’m sad and it’s a tough one, but it’s only October and I have the strength to think that we can turn this around and I have confidence in the group.

“Little by little the players are finding form and we’ve had a lot of injuries. I can continue to lead this group without a doubt. A defeat is always hard and against Barcelona even more so. The result doesn’t reflect the game, but it’s like that.”

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde singled out Suarez and Sergi Roberto, who set up two of the Uruguayan’s goals, for special praise. “We’re very happy for the people, our fans,” Valverde said. “Now the game is over we can enjoy it. While it’s happening you are too concentrated and tense.

“We totally dominated the game in the first half. They surprised us a bit early in the second half, but we also knew how to react and that’s how the final score came about.

“Sergi Roberto is a jewel for us. Luis Suarez? Hard work brings rewards. The hat-trick is a consequence of everything he has been doing. He is always there.” Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis told his players it was “promotion or nothing” last week, defender Jack Robinson has revealed.

“The owner came in last week and made it clear that it’s promotion or nothing for us, so we’ve all got that same goal,” said Robinson after a 1-1 draw with Leeds left his side four points adrift of the automatic promotion spots.

“He’s put a lot of money into it, so there’s a lot of ambition coming from him, and with the results we’ve been getting, he’s not happy. We’ve got to improve quickly.”

Sheffield United are two points clear and Billy Sharp, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 win at Wigan, believes they are well set.

“We need to keep grinding out results like we did today, when we were not at our best,” he said.

‘We chase goals, that’s our nature, but first we must collect most points’