Jürgen Klopp regretted Liverpool’s stalemate at Manchester United, which he “should have won,” and said he will back his club’s biggest rivals against Arsenal after losing the Premier League title fight.
Liverpool fell to second on goal difference behind Mikel Arteta’s team after the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on the penultimate weekend of the season. Klopp predicted Arsenal would win at Old Trafford if United played as poorly again.
The draw felt like a loss to Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk. Although his team had 28 shots and led 1-0 at halftime thanks to Luis Díaz, they lost goals to Bruno Fernandes (50 yards) and Kobbie Mainoo before Mohamed Salah’s late penalty.
Arsenal and Liverpool lead Manchester City by one point with seven matches left. Klopp, whose team was eliminated from the FA Cup at Old Trafford last month, was asked if he will support United against Arsenal.
“Probably if we are still around then [in the race] it would be great,” Liverpool’s boss stated. Arsenal is a good football team, and if United play like they did today, Arsenal will win that game, I’m confident. I regret saying that, but we should have won both games after losing in the Cup. It’s our fault.”
Klopp was unconcerned with Liverpool, whose goal difference stands nine behind Arsenal’s, no longer leading. “It matters a lot after 38 matchday,” Klopp added.
People and our supporters will tell us to improve our goal differential, but that would be the worst thing we could do. It’s not intentional to score eight goals in a game.
“We are in the race because of who we are. That’s alright with me. I knew it would be difficult till the finish. Whatever time, we were top till yesterday. Arsenal is it until I don’t know when, then maybe someone else.
“We want to be there after the last matchday. Being there the whole time and having distance from others is best. Our position is fine. I wish we had more points, but I’m fine and thrilled that these boys got us into this predicament. The same boys who missed some chances today scored 71 points. This will likely have additional turns.”
Van Dijk pondered Liverpool’s first-half misses. “We should have been 2-0 up at least,” he told Sky Sports. “We controlled them. It feels like a loss now. Because of our wastefulness, we saved them.”
Jarell Quansah passed to Fernandes around halfway, allowing him to beat Caoimhin Kelleher. “Unfortunately individual mistakes can happen in a game but there was still so much time to put it right,” Van Dijk remarked. But we were rushed and lost too many balls in midfield challenges.”
Was it self-inflicted? One hundred percent. Feels like Cup game again. We played better in the first half, generated and limited chances, but we know that one moment can change the game if you don’t complete it, which is disappointing.”
United, sixth, has lost seven points in its last three wins. “It’s very disappointing when you put yourselves three times in a winning position just before the end of the game but then drop points,” Erik ten Hag stated. “We’ve all seen bad decisions.
All three games had bad calls, but not always by the same individuals. Having 26 backline shapes and no routines doesn’t help, but we must improve. Earlier is better.”
Ten Hag liked 19-year-old Willy Kambwala, who played at centre-back alongside Harry Maguire. “When old soldiers die, new ones must come in,” he remarked.
