If his somber facial expression and defeatist body language didn’t give the game away, Jurgen Klopp has now confirmed what many suspected.
Wednesday’s meek surrender at Goodison Park was the biggest disappointment he has felt after a game in his career, he said yesterday.
Liverpool lost 2-0 to bitter city rivals Everton, the first time they were defeated on the trip through Stanley Park since 2010. The overtones around Merseyside added salt to Klopp’s wounds, in addition to the fact that practically ruled them out of the Premier. League title race.
The bitterest pill for the German was his team’s lack of fight.
Of course, he would never throw them under the bus (he has taken the blame) and this season will end on par for the course, given preseason expectations.
Jurgen Klopp shows frustration as Liverpool’s title challenge fails against Everton
Liverpool suffered their first defeat to their Merseyside rivals at Goodison Park since 2010.
Klopp said the defeat was the biggest disappointment he has felt after a match in his entire career.
“It’s really strange, but I hated our game,” he said.
“We weren’t even close to what we want to be. You saw the game. It wasn’t the first (below average), but it was the worst. I see two teams (Arsenal and Manchester City) that play very positive football and go for it. We can do it, but we don’t do it right now. And who can I hold responsible for that?
‘It’s not about individuals – ‘you and you and you’ – that doesn’t make sense. It’s my job until the last day to make sure the kids feel that. The game (against Everton) was just horrible to watch.
“In Germany, when the crowd is not happy with the team and they think they are not fighting enough, they sing a song that translates as ‘we want to see you fight’. I was about to sing that! None of my teams have ever heard that never.
‘We found a way to concede a goal… the goal was a joke. We kicked the ball to each other and then it was free in the area… please! And it’s just when you’re not yourself. (Jarrad) Branthwaite missed the ball and it went in… you can laugh at it, but it was incredible.’
He had previously said: “I don’t remember ever being as disappointed or frustrated after a game as I was after the Everton game.” I lost many games in my life but it was special, we weren’t there. I blame myself one hundred percent because we weren’t in the mood.’
So, while his counterpart Sean Dyche headed back to his flat to enjoy a couple of beers, Klopp returned to his home in Formby and has not long snapped out of his funk. When asked how he handled the emotional trauma, the 56-year-old said: ‘Time!
‘I know it didn’t work properly. When I got home, (his mood) was not very good, when I woke up it was not very good. I went to the office (on Thursday), it wasn’t very good… but it got better, step by step. That’s how it is.
Arne Slot could face less pressure if he takes charge of a Liverpool team that does not win the title
There is still some discussion over which members of staff Slot will bring with him to Anfield
‘I also think that you have to feel the defeats and it was difficult (to accept). But I’m absolutely fine. Like I said, you can lose a game but if you don’t learn from it, it’s a double loss. And we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Liverpool will look to avoid making the same mistakes on their trip to West Ham today, with the Reds only having four games left in Klopp’s tenure. “I’m not in the mood to raise the white flag,” he added yesterday, with a hint of defiance.
But as Klopp admitted, this late-season stumble has made the task for the new manager, almost certainly Arne Slot, much less daunting.
If Liverpool had ended the Klopp era with a fairy tale, namely a Premier League title, the Dutchman would have been expected to do the same immediately.
Slot, 45, is expected to take the reins at Anfield and that deal could be finalized this weekend.
sport mail understands that the haggling is about the number of backroom staff he brings with him to Merseyside. His right-hand man, Sipke Hulshoff, is expected to follow.
Hulshoff would take over from Pep Lijnders, Klopp’s trusted lieutenant and ally of his compatriot Slot. The Feyenoord coach will also bring with him head of performance Ruben Peeters and wants coach Etienne Reijnen to also be part of the team.
Reijnen is said to be more in play as the Rotterdam club is playing hardball with the amount of staff it will leave De Kuip with, according to Dutch sources. The total package could reach up to £13m.
Liverpool top brass will look to conclude negotiations this weekend, as the team aims to return to winning ways in east London. Cody Gakpo has returned to training after his wife gave birth to a baby this week, but Diogo Jota and Conor Bradley remain out.