England FA sanction Liverpool and Manchester United fans as both supporters clash after a dramatic end at Old Trafford
Liverpool suffered a 4-3 defeat against Man United in the FA Cup quarter-finals
Klopp’s side led twice at Old Trafford but were unable to finish the match off
The damage has already been done.
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Mentality and resilience have been the key themes underpinning Liverpool’s season. But on this occasion, the Mentality Monsters malfunctioned. Instead of fighting to the last second like so often, this was an utterly bizarre show of game management.
It meant the Reds players could have few complaints at the result as they trudged back along the East Lancashire Road following this energy-zapping defeat. The star-studded squad will now jet across the world to start an international break with a tinge of regret.
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‘We didn’t finish the game off,’ was the summary of Jurgen Klopp. And he’s right – his team had this win in the bag twice. But lapses in concentration and sloppy mistakes led Liverpool to contrive to throw away what would have been a seismic step in their hunt for four trophies.
They had a lucky escape with one of the last kicks of regulation time when Marcus Rashford narrowly poked a shot wide after the Liverpool defence was rocking from throwing away the win late on and were carved open too easily.
Rashford’s poor effort from point-blank range made one wonder if it was written in the stars for Klopp to conquer all he surveys in his Last Dance in English football. But instead he finds himself with a big task to soothe the wounds of a bruising defeat to his team’s bitter rivals.
Liverpool twice led but ended up on the wrong side of the tie after a dramatic 120 minutes
Jurgen Klopp admitted his Liverpool side failed to finish the game off against Man United
Darwin Nunez was punished for giving the ball away in the build-up to Marcus Rashford’s goal
When Rashford finally did score, it came from a touch of inexperience from Darwin Nunez as he was cheaply robbed of possession in his own half. United’s winner was a great counter-attack but they were given the licence to roam with Klopp’s defence nowhere to be seen.
That goal came from a Liverpool corner. Yes, Klopp’s men should not be criticised for throwing men forward in search of late goals – it would be hypocritical to mark Liverpool down for something that led them to the 99th-minute winner at Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.
But the way Liverpool lost this match leaves Klopp with a big job to do in terms of rallying his troops ahead of big away trips to come in the Premier League, not least a return here to Old Trafford on April 7 and a Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park still to be rearranged.
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‘We didn’t finish the game off, when you leave the door open, away from home at Old Trafford, it’s clear they would get chances,’ said Klopp. ‘It was really hard for us. That was the first time I really saw my team really struggling.’
Some fans would say the excuse of tiredness was redundant after Klopp fielded an XI not too far from their strongest on Thursday against Sparta Prague, a tie they led 5-1 after the first leg. That seems a bit of a stretch for criticism but some players did look shattered here.
‘There was a time when they played one versus one at the back,’ said Klopp. ‘We should have used that better, but that’s the problem. The longer the game goes, the decision-making doesn’t get better, let me say it like that. They take the risk and we don’t use it properly.’
The German was referring to the fact that United’s defence in extra time resembled something you’d see on five-a-side pitches on a Tuesday night. Harry Maguire stayed back, mostly, then the rest was just a bit random, with Bruno Fernandes often covering.
Liverpool should have taken advantage of that. But they looked tired and it felt like, after clearing so many hurdles in a challenging few months with an injury crisis, this was perhaps one step too far.
Amad Diallo’s winning goal came after Liverpool were hit on the break from their own corner
Liverpool failed to take advantage of Bruno Fernandes covering in defence for Man United
Klopp will expect his Liverpool side to regroup following the international break
That will likely be the verdict of Klopp when the dust settles, too. No one, not least him, expected Liverpool to be in the hunt for four trophies in mid-March. And so this defeat will have angered him and left him full of regret, the Reds boss knows his team have the mental fortitude to bounce back.
His tenure on Merseyside will not end with a fairytale-like clean sweep of trophies but they are still in an extremely strong position to win a second Premier League crown and also add a Europa League to his glistening silverware cabinet.
Key midfielder Curtis Jones has been an underrated loss – he brings stability and calmness to central areas and would have been in the England squad but not for a recent injury. He is expected to be back within the next fortnight, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota also hoping to return in early April.
So although this last-gasp defeat casts a sour note over the Reds going into the international break, it is certainly not time to panic.
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