Reds left drained by Son stunner but Klopp won’t let the belief run dry
JURGEN KLOPP’S words were positive enough but his face offered the true picture.
The Liverpool manager looked ashen at the end of this damaging result against Tottenham – as drained as his courageous players who kept fighting for the victory they required despite their physical and mental reserves clearly deserting them.
Klopp and Anfield knew that this draw handed a psychological advantage to Manchester City, which they exploited with their 5-0 win against Newcastle yesterday.
Yet there was still a note of defiance despite knowing
City are more than good enough to win all their remaining games, even after their shattering defeat by Real Madrid.
But Klopp knows, too, that defeat can still prey on them in their next three matches, which include visits to two sides who have demonstrated in recent seasons they are capable of defeating Pep Guardiola’s side.
Which is why he was able to still build up the strengths of his side, and suggest that their remarkable journey this season is still far from over. “That is what life is – you overcome things, bad things,” he said.
“When we get the first little stone thrown in our way, that moment we stop doing it... I wouldn’t like that too much, to be honest.
“So now we just have to show resilience – and we will.You can’t just be ready to try everything only as long as it works.
“If we had won [against Spurs], it wouldn’t have increased the probability of winning against Aston Villa, not at all. We have to go, we will prepare, we will try. The only chance we have that something goes our way in the end is to win now all the football games we play.” Wolves away is no gimme for City. They did the double over Guardiola’s men a couple of years ago. And West Ham beat them in the Carabao Cup this season. Klopp is adamant the one thing his side will never do is throw in the towel. We know that already – Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, even Villarreal last week showed that. They
were out on their feet against Spurs and still took a point.
Antonio Conte, left, saw his side score from a swift counter-attack, with Harry Kane showing maturity in passing rather than shooting to give Heung-Min Son the chance to score.
Yet Klopp’s side fought back and levelled from a heavily deflected Luis Diaz shot to give themselves a chance of winning. It did not arrive, but it was not for lack of belief or effort.
Klopp said: “At this moment, I can’t imagine City would lose. But because we don’t believe anymore, we then cannot use it? That would be really insane. No, no. So the boys are absolutely in the mood they should be now – very disappointed. That’s fine.
“But from tomorrow on, I heard the spring is coming to England, so maybe we can use the weather a little bit for being in a good mood”
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 6; AlexanderArnold 6, Konate 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 6 (Tsimikas 65, 6); Henderson 6 (Jota 65), Fabinho 6 (Keita 88), Thiago 7; Salah 6, Mane 6, Diaz 8.
Goal: Diaz 74.
TOTTENHAM (3-4-3): Lloris 6; Dier 6, Romero 7, Davies 8; Royal 6, Bentancur 6, Hojbjerg 6, Sessegnon 6; Son 7 (Bergwijn 90), Kane 6, Kulusevski 7 (Winks 85). Goal: Son 56.
TOTTENHAM’S RUN-IN: Thurs: Arsenal (h); Sun: Burnley (h); May 22: Norwich (a).
DAVID MADDOCK