Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits his team will never be champions if they play like they did against Crystal Palace as he says criticism is ‘completely fine’

Liverpool’s title dream is fading fast and Jurgen Klopp has accepted they will never be champions if they repeat their performance against Crystal Palace.

A goal from Eberechi Eze condemned Liverpool to their first Premier League defeat at Anfield since October 2022 and Klopp had no complaints about the outcome.

Coming so soon after Thursday’s calamity against Atalanta, the manager understands his team are vulnerable to criticism.

This has been a pivotal weekend is the race to be crowned champions, with Manchester City showing why they are favourites, and while a weary-looking Klopp refused to throw in the towel, he accepts the odds are against Liverpool.

Klopp said: ‘I am not dumb. The answer is pretty easy: if we play like we did in the first half, how should we win the league? 

‘If we play it like in the second half, we can win football games. We have to be around when the other guys struggle – if they struggle.

‘We have to deal with a run of (four tough away games now). That is the easy thing: there is nothing else. 

‘The criticism in these moments is completely fine, it is absolutely right. It is all about how we deal with it.’

The Reds suffered a huge blow in their pursuit of the Premier League title on Sunday