Jurgen Klopp disappointed with Liverpool fans who left after Crystal Palace scored in 82nd minute
On Sunday, Jurgen Klopp faced his first defeat as Liverpool manager as the Reds went down 2-1 to Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace on Sunday night. A late header from Scott Dann ensured that Klopp’s unbeaten run at Liverpool came to an end.
After his appointment as the Liverpool manager almost a month ago, the former Borussia Dortmund coach had managed three wins and three draws at the club. This included recent away victories against Chelsea in the Premier League and Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. Crystal Palace, however, defeated Klopp’s team at Anfield making this their fourth away victory this season.
Klopp expressed his disappointment saying that the loss on Sunday against Palace was one that his side could have avoided.
“Today is a bad feeling. It was not necessary to lose this game,” said Klopp, according to ESPN.
Liverpool conceded their first goal in the 21st minute of the match after Yannick Bolasie’s first shot on target found the back of the net. However, the Reds, found an equaliser just three minutes before the end of first half as Philippe Coutinho scored his third goal in two matches.
Would rather lose 4-1 and have Sakho in the squad: Klopp
Mamadou Sakho struggled with a knee injury towards the end of first half, eventually leaving the field on crutches but not before he received a warm response from the Liverpool fans in the stadium. Klopp, fearing the worst, said that he’d rather lose the match 4-1 than lose him for a considerable amount of time.
“We have to wait for a scan,” Klopp said. “I don't want to speculate now. I would prefer to lose 4-1 and keep him.”
Liverpool commanded most of the possession and created more chances compared to Crystal Palace who played on the counter attack. Be that as it may, Pardew’s men struck back late in the second half with just eight minutes left on the clock, after Dann successfully headed Yohan Cabaye’s corner into the Simon Mignolet’s goal.
Klopp disappointed to see Liverpool fans leaving early
Following Dann’s goal which put Palace ahead once again, quite a few Liverpool supporters left the stadium. And Klopp admitted that he was let down by the early departure of the fans.
"After 82 minutes [when Palace scored] the goal, 12 minutes to go, but I saw many people leaving the stadium," Klopp said. “I felt pretty alone at this moment. We decide when it is over. Between 82 and 94 [minutes] you can make eight goals if you like.”
Disappointed with his team’s performance, Klopp emphasized on being discontented with how his team played during parts of the match.
“The problem I have is we play 95 minutes and if you are satisfied with 60, it is sometimes enough, sometimes not,” he concluded.