LONDON • The four-point lead Liverpool have at the top of the Premier League even after a 2-1 defeat by rivals Manchester City on Thursday was still impressive given their lack of title-winning experience, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.
The match in Manchester was billed by many as an early title decider, where a Liverpool victory would have given them a 10-point lead at the top with 17 games to go, having played City home and away.
However, goals from Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane, either side of a Roberto Firmino equaliser, ended Liverpool's unbeaten Premier League start and moved City to 50 points and within touching distance of top spot.
"I have so much faith in (my) players you cannot imagine," Klopp said.
"If somebody would have said after both games against Man City that we would have had a four-point lead, I would have paid good money for this, as I thought it was not possible.
"If we would have won the title five times in the last 10 years, then things would be different. We don't have the experience like this. We are still in a very good position so I am happy for this.
"I knew that City could beat us, that is not new. They beat us 5-0 last year. It did not have anything to do with mental strength on one side or the other. It was just unlucky."
Klopp was also unhappy with one decision that did not go his side's way, when City captain Vincent Kompany received only a yellow card for a lunge at Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
"Situations like this happen. A player goes to ground, and he took the risk. If Mo is on his feet, not jumping, then we all know what happen. Mo can go through," he said.
"Kompany saw him, hit him, and you can make your own opinion."
Despite the loss, former Liverpool captains Graeme Souness and Jamie Carragher believe the Merseyside club still have the advantage in the Premier League title race.
"Liverpool are in great shape," Souness told Sky Sports. "Ask both managers what position you'd rather be in right now.
"You're going to take the four points sitting top of the league, especially with the run-in that Liverpool have."
Having played Arsenal and City back-to-back, Liverpool do not play another top-six side until Feb 24 when they travel to Manchester United.
L10Â
January matches Liverpool have lost out of 25 (W8 D7 L10) in all competitions under Jurgen Klopp.
Carragher also echoed Souness' sentiments and alluded to Liverpool's recent form against teams outside the top six.
"The form they have shown, certainly against sides outside the top six, they have got a lot of those games coming," the former defender said.
"Four points clear is still a really good position to be in. Liverpool just need to relax, get some wins under their belt, maybe improve that lead if they can over the next month to six weeks."
Â
But now comes some hard work indeed. When Firmino had scored what Klopp hoped would finish as an equaliser, he had clutched a water bottle like it was the league trophy itself, but now the finish line must seem a long way off.
Liverpool next play Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in the third round of the FA Cup on Monday.
THE TIMES, LONDON, REUTERS
Kane can't pay out for Poch the gambler: Spurs' rusty talisman struggles on return from injury embarking on a 22-match unbeaten run, How have Unai Emery and Maurizio Sarri fared in English
javascript - React.js - access to component methods - Stack
Australia captain Tim Paine believes his emerging team found a hard-nosed identity appropriate for their reformed demeanour after a 146-run victory against India in the "bruising" second test on
Paine Relieved With Aussie Triumph - Complete Sports
We are delighted to announce that the First Team squad will travel to Singapore and Shanghai as part of our pre-season tour in July in preparation for the 2019/20 season.
Tottenham heading to Singapore and Shanghai for preseason
April 27 (Reuters) - Everton's hopes of finishing in seventh and a potential Europa League qualification spot suffered a blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in
Everton held to goalless draw at Palace - Football match
AFC. The AFC was not part of the World Cup 2018 draw in any way, shape, or form. They did their own thing and have already progressed to the 2nd round of qualification. Those matches began back in June. To get you up to speed, here are a couple screenshots of current standings, projections and evolution of odds.
Why Tottenham's surprise Champions League progress means Pochettino's project is at risk Chairman Daniel Levy is determined to put Spurs among Europe's elite as evidenced by the
Pochettino reveals how Spurs must progress to the next stage
Football: Chelsea move into third spot above Tottenham after 3-0 win over Watford the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea FC and Watford FC at Stamford Bridge in London
Football: Chelsea move into third spot above Tottenham after
sportsloveme.com/soccer/football-chelsea-move-into-third-spot-above-tottenham-after-3-0-win-over-watford/
Football: Chelsea move into third spot above Tottenham after 3-0 win over Watford 05/05/2019 Chelsea , EPL , Maurizio Sarri LONDON (REUTERS) - Quickfire headed goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Luiz, both set up by Eden Hazard early in the second half, helped Chelsea to a 3-0 home victory against spirited Watford in the Premier League
Chelsea 3 - 0 Watford - Match Report & Highlights
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive
Feb 14, 2019 · Alexandre Lacazette sent off as sloppy Arsenal see Bate Borisov seize Europa League first-leg advantage football calendar, BATE had not played a match since December 13. Such was the muddy
Bate Borisov 1-0 Arsenal: Gunners suffer defeat in Belarus
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fined £45,000 (S$80,000) by the Football Association on Thursday (Feb 21) for suggesting referee Kevin Friend had favoured West Ham in his side's
Liverpool's Klopp fined over referee comments - sports.yahoo.com
Singapore international striker Ikhsan Fandi moved to Europe with Raufoss IL earlier this year and the 20-year-old has now scored his first goal in the Norwegian First Division in stunning fashion!
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
worldsportstale.com/soccer/football-ikhsan-fandi-scores-in-third-successive-match-for-raufoss/
05/22/2019 Comments Off on Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for Raufoss SINGAPORE - Ikhsan Fandi's rich vein of scoring form continues as the Singapore striker found the net in his third consecutive match for second-tier Norwegian club Raufoss IL in just 11 days.
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
virginiabus.info/sports/football-ikhsan-fandi-scores-in-third-successive-match-for-raufoss/
SINGAPORE - Ikhsan Fandi's rich vein of scoring form continues as the Singapore striker found the net in his third consecutive match for second-tier Norwegian club Raufoss IL in just 11 days. On Wednesday (May 22), the 20-year-old opened the scoring at third-tier Fram Larvik in the 33rd minute of the second-round Norwegian Football Cup tie.
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
0 comments:
Post a Comment