Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Liverpool’s title hopes dented in costly draw
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp saw Manchester United throw a spanner in the works of their bid to equal their arch-rivals’ record of 20 league titles but he does not expect Erik ten Hag’s side to do them any favours when Arsenal come calling.
Klopp said he was “absolutely fine” with their situation after two dropped points in the title race after the 2-2 draw kept Arsenal top of the table on goal difference.
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.
“Probably if we are still around then it would be great but Arsenal are a good football team and if they (United) play like they did today Arsenal will win that game, I’m 100% sure,” said Klopp, whose side took 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 first-half dominance which brought only Luis Diaz’s opener.
A mistake by young centreback 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.
“The feelings are obviously mixed. 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. We should and could have been calmer and clearer in moments,” added Klopp, who was left to rue failing to capitalise on their first-half dominance.
“It (league position) matters after 38 match days. People and our supporters as well will tell us now we need to better our goal difference and go for that – that would be the dumbest thing we could do.”
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was equally 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 in the half spaces, we weren’t quick enough,” he said. “We encouraged the
team at half-time to win those duels. We didn’t take advantage in the first half and the second half we did.”
Tottenham took control of the top-four race after second-half goals by Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro downed relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest 3-1.
After Aston Villa dropped points at home to Brentford on Saturday, Spurs knew a victory would send them fourth on goal difference and with a game in hand, but Chris Wood’s firsthalf strike ensured it was level at the break.
Danilo’s own-goal put Tottenham
ahead and the hosts struck twice in five second-half minutes via fine finishes by Van de Ven and Porro to fire Ange Postecoglou’s team above their Champions League rivals.
Oli McBurnie grabbed a stoppagetime equaliser as struggling Sheffield United twice came from behind to snatch a point in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Thiago Silva’s opener was cancelled out by Jayden Bogle’s equaliser, but it looked like the Blues would come away with maximum points when Noni Madueke put them 2-1 up, only for McBurnie to level at the death.