Jurgen Klopp takes swipe at Man United by claiming title rivals Arsenal will win with ease at Old Trafford next month if Erik ten Hag’s side play as badly as they did against Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp took a swipe at Manchester United on Sunday by claiming that title rivals Arsenal can look forward to an Old Trafford walkover if Erik ten Hag’s side play as badly as they did against Liverpool.
Mo Salah’s late penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw from a thrilling clash, but it was still two points dropped on Arsenal and Manchester City in a game Liverpool dominated against their old rivals.
United face Arsenal at Old Trafford in their last home game on the penultimate weekend of the season next month, and Klopp isn’t expecting any favours on the evidence of Sunday’s game.
‘Arsenal is a good football team,’ said the Liverpool manager. ‘If they (United) play like today, Arsenal will win the game, I am 100 per cent sure. I am sorry to say that.’
Three weeks after letting United off the hook in a stunning 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Old Trafford, Liverpool out-shot their opponents 15-0 in the first half but only had one goal from Luis Diaz to show for it.
Jurgen Klopp is not expecting any favours from Manchester United when they play Arsenal
Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, to lose their grip on the Premier League race
The draw came three weeks after Man United won a stunning FA Cup tie against the Reds 4-3
United scored with their first attempt on goal from the halfway line when Jarell Quansah’s horribly misplaced pass allowed Bruno Fernandes to score in an empty net. Kobbie Mainoo put United in front with a spectacular strike before Salah evened it up from the spot.
Klopp added: ‘In all the times since I am here, I don’t think we ever dominated United like in these two games.
‘We should have won the game, that is clear. Being 1-0 up at Old Trafford and having a 15-0 shooting stat is incredible. No shots in the first half and 1-0 is the lowest we could expect.
‘Really well done from Bruno. I have the bad news it will not be his (Quansah’s) last mistake. He dealt extremely well with it.
‘Then the stadium is coming and we needed a few minutes to settle again and they scored another screamer.’
Liverpool started the weekend top of the table, but they are now second behind Arsenal on goal difference and only lead City by one point.
However, Klopp is refusing to panic, adding: ‘The whole Liverpool community just stay calm. We are where we are and we keep giving it a proper go. Do I wish we had 10 points difference? Of course. We take what we got and keep going.
‘Until yesterday we were toe to toe and now it is Arsenal. We want to be there after 38 games, the last match day. It is better to be there and have some distance.
‘The team who wins the league in the end should deserve it. We are in the race and I’m absolutely fine with it.’
Klopp is refusing to panic just yet even though Arsenal now lead the table on goal difference
Captain Virgil van Dijk said the draw ‘feels like a loss’ because of Liverpool’s opportunities
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was left to lament Liverpool’s wasted opportunities.
‘It feels like a loss, it is our fault again,’ said Van Dijk. ‘We had so many chances and we should finish the game off.
‘Unfortunately the individual mistake happened with the equaliser and we had so much time to put it right, but we were in a rush.’
