Jurgen Klopp labels Liverpool’s loss to Burnley ‘a massive punch in the face’

The German responded after the champions’ 68-game unbeaten run at Anfield in the league came to an end against the Clarets 

Jack Rathborn
Friday 22 January 2021 02:47 EST
Comments
Jurgen Klopp responds to defeat to Burnley
Jurgen Klopp responds to defeat to Burnley (POOL/AFP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Jurgen Klopp has labelled Liverpool’s shock 1-0 defeat at home to Burnley as a “massive punch in the face”.

The champions are experiencing a turbulent run of form without a win in five Premier League matches and no goals in their previous four games, which has seen their title defence fall away, with Manchester United six points clear at the top of the table.

And Klopp has frankly described how it feels for the Reds’ 68-match unbeaten home record in the Premier League to come to an end.

"Everything, all the English words, massive, massive punch in the face or whatever it’s my responsibility, that’s the easy explanation," Klopp said after Ashley Barnes' second-half penalty secured all three points for the Clarets.

The German would not go into detail about the ramifications on his side’s title bid.

READ MORE: Premier League fixtures and table – all matches by date and kick-off time

"How silly would that be if I sit here now, losing against Burnley, didn’t score for the last three or four games I don't know exactly and now I talk about the title race? How silly would that be?

"It's just we have to win football games it was always like this. For this we have to score goals, there is no doubt about it. That's what we have to change and have to do better," he said.

While Klopp did address his side’s blunt attack, pinpointing wrong decisions in the final third after Sean Dyche’s side kept a clean sheet.

"It’s wrong decisions in the moment. Three crosses in the box, we tried to find a player, didn’t. It’s my job to make sure the boys are in the right position, that they feel right," he added.

"It’s a tough one, not easy to explain. These boys are not the kind of person after a 7-0 to think we’ll go like this, they worked tonight hard and it didn’t happen.

“It was not easy to lose that game and we did it. It’s not about blaming, we have to sort it together and we will. In football you don’t have a lot of time.”

Liverpool must now regroup for this weekend’s fourth round FA Cup tie with Manchester United, a week removed from their goalless draw in the Premier League at Anfield.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in