Liverpool's season is starting to unravel and manager Jurgen Klopp can't explain why.
A 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace damaged Liverpool's Premier League title challenge on Sunday, three days after a 3-0 loss to Atalanta at Anfield in the first leg of their quarter-final. of the Europa League final.
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Those back-to-back home defeats come after last Sunday's draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford and leave Klopp's side looking up the table at leaders Manchester City once again.
“It could be,” said Klopp, when asked if the defeat to Palace was a hangover from the defeat to Atalanta. “If you look at my teams over the years, I think you could say that our pressing is usually good, the counterpressing is there. The first half [against Palace]we were open, how can that happen?
“Just a few days ago we played a bad game, so that might have something to do with that. It was actually a really good game.” [Sunday], unmarked. But unfortunately it's not that easy.”
Eberechi Eze scored a shot from a Tyrick Mitchell cutback in the 14th minute to condemn Liverpool to their first league defeat at Anfield in 28 games dating back to October 2022.
Palace could have doubled their lead in the first half when Jean-Philippe Mateta beat Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. The ball was intended for goal, but defender Andy Robertson ran back and slid to save it on the line.
“It's very frustrating today. There are so many opportunities,” Robertson told Sky Sports. “In the first half I thought we were poor and [Palace] They were up and could have been up by more than 1-0. “In the second half we had enough opportunities to win two or three games.”
It was the 21st time the Reds had fallen behind in 32 league games this season and failed to recover, despite Wataru Endo hitting the crossbar midway through the first half and Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones wasting golden chances in front to the Kop after the break.
In the final minutes, Mohamed Salah had an easy chance to score from close range for Liverpool, but his drive towards goal was weak and blocked by the outstretched leg of Mitchell, who made a desperate challenge.
“I would say that with the opportunities we had, we were very unlucky,” Klopp said. “In the second half, Crystal Palace were lucky not to punish them, but that's why we are here with no points and Crystal Palace have three.”
Liverpool started the weekend in second place, behind Arsenal on goal difference, but are now two points behind Manchester City after the champions' 5-1 thrashing of Luton Town on Saturday and finished the day third by goal difference despite the Gunners' defeat. to Aston Villa.
“Of course you have to ask yourself these questions: what does it mean for the title race and things like that,” Klopp told reporters on Sunday. “I'm not stupid, I know that.
“The answer is quite easy: if we played like we did in the first half, why should we win the league?”
Palace now sit in 14th place with 33 points with six games left in the season.
“It's an extraordinary victory at Anfield; it's very difficult to win here,” Palace boss Oliver Glasner said. “It's very nice to see how they played, especially in the first half. In the second half there was a lot of pressure from Liverpool.
“It's about being able to express yourself and play with confidence,” he added. We clear up many situations under pressure with one or two touches. We scored a spectacular goal. “It's about trust, team spirit and passion.”
Liverpool lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals last month, ending the chance of an unlikely quadruple of trophies this season with the League Cup already secured.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this article.
