Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he could not fully explain why his side had been “horrible to watch” as the Premier League title contenders dropped points for the second time in a week and suffered a second home defeat in four days with a shock setback against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday.
Eberechi Eze scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute as Liverpool lost without scoring at home in the league for the first time since a defeat to Fulham in March 2021, leaving them two points behind leaders Manchester City and level with Arsenal, who played their game in hand at home to Villa later on Sunday.
“Where it’s coming from? How can I answer that one 100%?” Klopp asked Sky Sports, adding that Curtis Jones had been “the only one chasing” Palace during a first half he called “absolutely not good enough”.
“[We] were horrible to watch. I am standing here and to talk about this game is really tricky.
“That was a horrible goal to concede, with a completely free player in the area. That cannot happen but it happens.”
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Klopp must hope Liverpool have not suffered two season-defining results in quick succession, having sustained a surprise 3-0 thrashing by Atalanta in the first leg of their Uefa Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
Liverpool v Palace result a ‘hangover’
“It’s only a few days ago that we played badly, so it might have something to do with that,” Klopp said.
“Was this a hangover? Yes. That’s how humans react sometimes. It’s not great but it happens.
“The conviction wasn’t there. We were much too far apart from each other. The last line was too deep, the midfield wasn’t really there and the first line didn’t start the press. That’s all true.”
“Feel really really rubbish”
Jurgen Klopp reacts to Liverpool’s chances against Crystal Palace âš½ pic.twitter.com/OhkgLS8Lkg
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 14, 2024
Wataru Endo’s first-half shot hit the crossbar as Liverpool pursued an equaliser, while Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Jones also spurned glorious chances.
Midtable Palace were unfortunate not to go further ahead through Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had a finish hooked off the line by Andy Robertson and was later denied by an excellent save from the returning Alisson.
With six games of their league campaign remaining, Liverpool’s sudden slump means Klopp is on course to have only the Carabao Cup trophy to show for his final season in charge.
