Jurgen Klopp bemoaned a ‘negative’ Liverpool side after the 4-1 defeat at Manchester City – and admitted they were lucky Pep Guardiola’s men weren’t ‘greedy’.
Mohamed Salah scored an early goal for Al-Ittihad, but City – without the injured Erling Haaland – responded before the break through Julian Alvarez, then took the lead with goals in the second half from Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish.
Klopp admitted City were able to do “whatever they wanted” after two goals in seven second-half minutes effectively finished the game.
He told BT Sport: “I think we saw the first half that you can expect: a dominant City team with us, well organized, having our moments.
“In the first half 1-1, obviously, you can show the boys what we have to do and where we have to defend. The key areas are clear. If you don’t control the double 6 (not) 6, you’re in real trouble if you don’t control the double ( No) 10. So it’s impossible to play because the field has become too big We concede the first goal – an open ball in midfield where we’re not even challenged – then outside we’re too deep and counter-attacks happen.
“If you’re too deep and too negative, they’ll use that right away – 2-1, 3-1. (At) 3-1 we have a massive overload on one side. We have to win the ball but we don’t have the challenge. Those kinds of things don’t It could have happened at all, but it did.
“After that, we were just open, like, wow. They can do whatever they want and we just have to follow it. We were lucky they weren’t in a more greedy mood. They scored the fourth goal but they were happy after that. Aside from that, there’s nothing good.” It can be said about this game.
Asked if he thought City midfielder Rodri should have picked up a second yellow card, a wistful Klopp said: “Yes, probably. He won’t get it now. I’m not sure we would have won today against 10 men, to be honest.” honest.”
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