´Killer´ mistakes costly for Liverpool as Klopp targets top-four finish

Jurgen Klopp saw positive signs from Liverpool but admitted two “massive mistakes” by Alisson proved their downfall in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.

The reigning Premier League champions slipped to a third successive home league defeat on Sunday, with the result leaving them well off the pace in the title race.

City now sit five points clear of nearest rivals Manchester United but 10 ahead of Liverpool, while Pep Guardiola’s squad also have a game in hand.

Mohamed Salah’s penalty cancelled out Ilkay Gundogan’s opener in an eventful second half at Anfield, but two blunders by Alisson helped City on their way to a record-equalling 14th successive win in all competitions.

3 – Liverpool are the first side to lose three straight home league matches in the following campaign after winning the English top-flight since Chelsea did so almost 65 years ago back in March 1956. Throwback. #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/UDJymBGlUV

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021

“When you lose 4-1 it’s not your day. Big parts of the game were brilliant from my side, we played really good football,” Klopp told Sky Sports.

“In the first half we played really good football, against City it just means you are reading the game. Start of the second half, City changed the system slightly to a 4-4-2.

“It’s a little adaptation and at the start of the second half we didn’t give enough options to play and gave the first goal away. We just gave them a bit too much of an opportunity.

“We scored the equaliser and it looked like the game could now go in our direction. We made two massive mistakes, it’s clear, everybody saw them, they used them, then 3-1 it’s tough to take. 

“The performance was good for a lot of time. Really good, high level, if we played more before like in these moments we would not be 10 points behind City.

“The goals – we made massive mistakes, if you make them against City it’s the killer. That’s why we lost the game.”

Klopp felt the rest of the team did not help out Alisson for the stray passes that led to City’s second and third goals, scored by Gundogan and Raheem Sterling respectively.

The Brazil international is the first Liverpool goalkeeper to make two errors leading directly to a goal in a single game since Loris Karius against Real Madrid in the Champions League final in May 2018.

“It’s true as well that we didn’t give him a lot of options, especially the first one,” the Liverpool boss said.

“I think the second one there is no explanation, maybe he had cold feet or something, it sounds funny but it could be, but still the opportunity was there to kick it into the stands.

“But Ali has saved our lives many times and tonight he made two mistakes.”

410 & 602 – Mohamed Salah’s penalty has ended Liverpool’s run of 410 minutes without a Premier League goal at Anfield, and also ended a run of 602 minutes without conceding a goal home and away in the competition for Man City. Broken. pic.twitter.com/2AKZcgswfp

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2021

With a double-digit gap to City, Klopp confirmed his main focus is on sealing a top-four finish and a place in next season’s Champions League. 

They return to league action next Saturday, travelling to third-place Leicester City.

“It is of course our main target, that is clear, we will try everything,” Klopp said. “We’ve enough games to play to secure that but we have to win games.”