JURGEN KLOPP said he felt he had been handed “a massive punch in the face” as Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten home run was shattered by Burnley.
Ashley Barnes’ late penalty sent the champions spinning to a damaging defeat which leaves their top four hopes on the line, let alone a title defence.
Jurgen Klopp feels like he’s been ‘punched in the face’ after Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten run came to an endCredit: AP:Associated Press
Klopp, who had a half-time bust-up with Clarets boss Sean Dyche, said: “We lost a game which I think was impossible to lose but we did it, and that’s my fault.
“We can’t imagine the title race at the moment.”
Liverpool are now six points off leaders Manchester United down in fourth, with Tottenham and Everton both able to go above them if they win their games in hand.
The blank against struggling Burnley means the Reds have gone 7 hours 18 minutes without scoring in the League – and Kop legend Graeme Souness fears the worst.
He said: “Liverpool have been a shadow of the team we have seen for the best part of three years.
“Jurgen has got some hard thinking to do. Some of them players look as though they’re shot. There’s not any sparkle about them.
“It’s hard enough to win it, but to retain it and stay there year in year out you have to be a very special team and right now this Liverpool team are not up to that challenge.
“This is not a slight blip, this is a dip en masse of the players in that dressing room. The drop in quality is enormous.”
Ashley Barnes scored a late penalty to earn the shock 1-0 winCredit: AFP
Klopp added: “In the final moment our decision making is not right, that’s the problem.
“You have the ball in the right place then you don’t shoot, then you pass.
!The difference between a good footballer and a very good footballer is decision making. That’s it. It’s not rocket science.”
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Victory saw Burnley climb up to 16th, seven points clear of the drop zone and boss Dyche said: “We don’t lack belief. We lack a bit of talent sometimes, but not belief.
“They were probing but our shape and diligence was excellent. The will of the keeper and defenders to keep a clean sheet. And the strikers too. You defend from the front.
“When we get it right as a structure and a unit, doing the basics, it keeps you in a game and then you have to find a way to win.”
Jurgen Klopp clashes with Burnley’s Sean Dyche in tunnel following off-the-ball Fabinho clash
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
