Liverpool boss ‘fine’ despite title setback
Manchester United have thrown a spanner in the works of Liverpool's bid to equal their record of 20 league titles, but the Anfield club’s coach Jurgen Klopp does not expect Erik ten Hag’s team to do his side any favours when Arsenal come calling.
Klopp said he was “absolutely fine” with Liverpool’s situation after two dropped points in the title race in yesterday's 2-2 draw kept Arsenal top of the Premier League on goal difference. Defending champions Manchester United are third, only one point back in a title race that shapes as one of the tightest in years.
The Gunners are due at Old Trafford on the penultimate weekend of the season, but the Liverpool boss does not hold out much hope of a helping hand.
“If we are still around then it would be great, but Arsenal is a good football team and if [United] play like they did today Arsenal will win that game, I’m 100 per cent sure,’’ said Klopp, whose side have taken just two points off United this season.
“I'm really sorry to say it, but we should have won both games and didn't. That's our fault.’’
Mohamed Salah rescued a point with an 84th-minute penalty after the visitors failed to capitalise on their firsthalf dominance which brought only Luis Diaz's opener.
A mistake by young centre-back Jarell Quansah allowed Bruno Fernandes to equalise with a lob over goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from the centre circle before Kobbie Mainoo put the home side ahead.
“I'm happy with a lot of parts of the game - being 1-0 up at Old Trafford and having a 15-0 shooting stat (in the first half ) is incredible,’’ Klopp said.
“We should and could have been calmer and clearer in moments.
“[League position] matters after 38 matchdays. People will tell us now we need to better our goal difference and go for that - that would be the dumbest thing we could do.
“We are who we are and we are how we are - that’s why we are in the race. I’m absolutely fine with that.
“We are fine with our situation. I wish we had more points, but I'm absolutely fine - over the moon, actually, that these boys brought us into that situation. The same boys who missed today a few chances are the boys who brought us 71 points.’’
Manchester United boss Ten Hag was happy with how his side responded after being outplayed for large parts of the game.
“First half we lost the duels and our decision-making ... we weren’t quick enough,’’ he said.
“We encouraged the team at halftime to win those duels. We didn’t take advantage in the first half and the second half we did.’’
Ten Hag was not happy, though, that his side capitulated late on for the third successive game.
“It's very disappointing when you put yourselves three times in the week in a winning position just before the end of the game, but then drop points,’’ he said. “We have seen some poor decisions. We have to improve. The sooner the better.’’
In other matches yesterday, Tottenham boosted their chances of a top-four finish with a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest for whom All Whites striker Chris Wood scored. Sheffield United scored a stoppage time equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea that may ulimately do little to help their chances of avoiding relegation.