If his gloomy facial expression and defeatist body language did not give the game away, Jurgen Klopp has now confirmed what many suspected.
Wednesday’s meek surrender at Goodison Park was the most disappointed he has felt after a game in his career, he said yesterday.
Liverpool lost 2-0 to bitter city rivals Everton, the first time they had fallen to defeat on the trip across Stanley Park since 2010. The connotations around Merseyside added salt to Klopp’s wounds, plus the fact it all but ruled them out of the Premier League title race.
The most bitter pill to swallow for the German, though, was his team’s lack of fight.
Of course, he would never throw them under the bus — he has taken the blame — and this campaign will end around par for the course given the pre-season expectations.
Jurgen Klopp shows his frustration as Liverpool’s title challenge falters against Everton
Liverpool suffered their first defeat to their Merseyside rivals at Goodison Park since 2010
Klopp said the defeat was the most disappointed he’s felt after a game in his whole career
‘It’s really strange but I hated our game,’ he said.
‘We were not even close to what we want to be. You saw the game. It wasn’t the first (below par) one but it was the worst one. I see two teams (Arsenal and Manchester City) who play really positive football and go for it. We can do that – but we don’t in this moment. And who can I make responsible for that?
‘It is not about individuals – ‘you and you and you’ – that doesn’t make sense. It’s my job until the last day to make sure that the boys feel that. The game (against Everton) was just horrible to watch.
‘In Germany when the crowd is not happy with the team and they think they are not fighting enough, they sing a song which translates into ‘we want to see you fight’ – I was close to singing that! Never has one of my teams heard that ever. Never.
‘We found a way to concede a goal… the goal was a joke. We kicked the ball at each other and then he was free in the box… please! And it is just when you’re not yourself. (Jarrad) Branthwaite mishit the ball and it rolls in… you can laugh about it but it was incredible.’
Earlier, he had said: ‘I can’t remember ever being as disappointed or frustrated after a game as I was after the Everton game. I lost a lot of games in my life but it was special, we were not there. I blame myself 100 per cent because we were not in the mood.’
So while opposite number Sean Dyche returned to his flat to enjoy a couple of lager shandies, Klopp went back to his home in Formby and has not long come out of his bad mood. Asked how he handled the emotional trauma, the 56-year-old said: ‘Time!
‘I know it didn’t work out properly. When I went home, it (his mood) was not great, when I woke up it was not great. I went to the office (on Thursday), it was not great …but it got better, step by step. So that is how it is.
Arne Slot could face less pressure if he takes over a Liverpool team that don’t win the title
There remains some haggle over which members of staff Slot will bring with him to Anfield
‘I believe as well that you have to feel defeats and it was a tough one (to take). But I’m absolutely fine. As I said, you can lose a game but if you don’t learn from it, it is a double defeat. And we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.’
Liverpool will attempt to avoid making the same mistakes on their trip to West Ham today, with the Reds having just four games left of Klopp’s tenure. ‘I am not in the mood to raise the white flag,’ he added yesterday, with a hint of defiance.
But as Klopp admitted, this late-season stumble has made the task for the new manager, almost certainly Arne Slot, a lot less daunting.
If Liverpool had ended the Klopp era with a fairytale – i.e. a Premier League title – the Dutchman would have been expected to immediately follow suit.
Slot, 45, is heavily expected to take the reins at Anfield and that deal could be concluded this weekend.
Mail Sport understands the haggle is over the number of backroom staff he brings with him to Merseyside. Right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff is expected to follow him.
Hulshoff would take on the job of Pep Lijnders, Klopp’s trusted lieutenant who is an ally of compatriot Slot. The Feyenoord boss is also set to bring head of performance Ruben Peeters with him and wants coach Etienne Reijnen to form part of the team, too.
Reijnen is said to be more in the balance given the Rotterdam club are playing hardball on the number of backroom staff that will leave De Kuip, according to Dutch sources. The total package could reach up to £13million.
Liverpool’s top brass will look to conclude negotiations this weekend while the team aim to return to winning ways in east London. Cody Gakpo has returned to training after his wife gave birth to a baby boy this week, but Diogo Jota and Conor Bradley remain sidelined.
