Klopp admits sharing points feels like loss
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits the 1-1 draw with Burnley felt like a defeat but not because the result ended their 100% home record in the league.
The game was one of the most onesided 1- 0s imaginable after Andy Robertson’s opener, but a combination of the brilliance of Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope and wayward finishing cost the Premier League champions before Jay Rodgriguez’s equaliser.
They were the width of a crossbar away from losing their proud three-year, 58- game unbeaten home league record after Johann Gudmundsson crashed a late shot against the woodwork and that is why Klopp had mixed feelings.
“A good performance in most parts of the game. There were moments when it was Liverpool against Nick Pope,” he said. “It is the biggest challenge in football to play against a team which is that organised and has such an outstanding attitude like Burnley has.
“We should have scored more but I am fine with the performance, for 80 minutes I would say.
“For different reasons this score ( 1- 0) left the door open for Burnley and it was always clear they had corners where Ali ( goalkeeper Alisson Becker) was under pressure from three or four players and then free-kicks on top of that.
“I feel like we have lost the game – we didn’t, I know that. It was a draw but I cannot deny it feels like we completely lost the game.”
Burnley boss Sean Dyche was grateful his side were not out of the game by halftime, having conceded 73% possession, numerous chances and struggled to get close to Liverpool, but praised the way they held out.
A large part of the credit had to go to Pope, who leads the Premier League in clean sheets ( 14) and is staking a claim to be England’s number one.
“I think Popey was excellent. The keeper made a couple of big saves, a couple of big moments,” he said. “His job is to keep it out the net, that’s his job and he does it very well.”
On becoming the first side since Leicester in January 2019 to take a points off Liverpool at Anfield he added: “Not really too fussed about that, I’m more fussed about the performance of the lads giving everything.”