Liverpool boss Klopp calls out two stars after Forest ‘no brainers’

Liverpool V Nottingham Forest In Pictures

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticised Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk for missing clear-cut opportunities against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. His side were beaten 1-0 by the bottom-of-the-table side, with their former player Taiwo Awoniyi scoring the all-important goal.

Having beaten Manchester City last weekend, many expected that to be the turning point in the Reds’ campaign after an underwhelming start to the season. Though despite beating West Ham in midweek, Klopp’s side still look like a shadow of their former selves.

Liverpool did have several chances to take the lead and also equalise after the opener, but they were wasteful in front of goal. Speaking after the game, Klopp addressed those opportunities and singled out van Dijk and Firmino’s misses, telling BT Sport: “The performance I can explain, the result not to be honest.

“I never saw that game where one team has, not sure, four or five no-brainers from a set-piece where we have to finish it off, we were perfectly prepared for that. Bobby first-half, Virgil two times, three times, you have to put the game to bed because the goal from us is a big mistake. Apart from that, all the chances we gave them because we played too often wrong passes in the centre.

“It happened anyway. They closed the centre so much, so the wings was possible, it will not be a free-flowing performance, we knew that with the late changes and a lot of changes. It’s a game you have to win by doing the right stuff again and again and we didn’t. That’s why we stood here and haven’t won the game.”

The Reds are now seventh in the Premier League and 11 points behind table-toppers Arsenal, who have a game in hand. Klopp’s side already appear to have sacrificed their chances of contending for the title at the end of the season, and questions will be raised over whether they can finish in the top four if they continue to slip up against lesser opposition.

DON’T MISS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang torn to shreds over leaked Mikel Arteta comments
Arsenal chief Edu has last laugh on £62.8m transfer deal after unanswered phone calls
Chelsea want signature of first Graham Potter signing ‘before World Cup’ to avoid hijack

Klopp even hesitated from overly praising Forest after the match due to how many chances his side missed. He said: “It’s Premier League and they’re all good, all fight, but giving teams six clear chances, I’m not sure where I should put praise on. They’re a great team, Steve’s a fantastic manager, for us, we have to win here – done – but we didn’t.

“Credit to Nottingham, it was us against the goalkeeper, us against ourselves and not us against Nottingham Forest, nobody defended Bobby, Virg, we didn’t use it.”

Source: Read Full Article