Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says they lost their momentum after failure to beat Manchester United in two games.
Liverpool’s Premier League title chances suffered a major blow after they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday. Sunday’s match was Liverpool’s first Premier League defeat at Anfield since October 2022 against Leeds United.
“I feel really rubbish,” Klopp told Sky Sports. “I am standing here and to talk about this game is really tricky.
“The first half was absolutely not good enough. We lost conviction from the last game [against Atalanta]. We concede the goal, which is a horrible goal. A completely free player in the six-yard box, that cannot happen.”
After a 1-1 draw against Manchester United last week, Liverpool lost with three goals against Atalanta at Anfield on Thursday. Jurgen Klopp’s side also lost against their rivals Man United in the FA Cup in March.
Klopp added: “I think the problem is, a little bit, that I’m not 100 per cent sure that, in general, how we dealt with the United games helped.
“We lost the game in the cup and it was like a catastrophe because we were that good and lost it anyway.
“Then we drew there but were really good for a long spell. We have conceded a little bit.
“That’s now not the reason for today, the problems we had in the United games were completely different to the things we had today, but obviously we expected a reaction.
“We lost in that (United) game more than only the game. It didn’t help.”
The Reds now are two points behind leaders Manchester City after 32 matches. They play with Atalanta in their Europa League quarter-finals second leg on Thursday before traveling to London to play against Fulham.
Klopp said: “The goal we conceded – he (Eze) ends up completely free in the box, that cannot happen. We had other moments where we were just not together.
“The second half is a really good home game. I’m not sure they had chances but we had a lot – big ones where everybody would think that should be a goal, and other moments where we were nearly there.
“We had momentum, we could put them under pressure, but in the end it was not enough. We have to admit that.
“What it means for the title race – I am not dumb. The answer is pretty easy. If we play like in the first half, why should we win the league? If we play like in the second half, we can win football games.
“We have to be around now when the other guys struggle, if they struggle. That is how it is. We have to win football games anyway. Now, a string of four away games. That would have been tough anyway. That is clear. We have to deal with that now. There is nothing else.
“The criticism in these moments is absolutely fine and right. We have to deal with it.”
