Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted the 1-1 draw with Burnley felt like a defeat but not because the result ended their 100 per cent home record in the league.
The Premier League champions were in control after Andy Robertson’s opener but a combination of the brilliance of Clarets goalkeeper Nick Pope and wayward finishing cost the hosts before Jay Rodgriguez’s equaliser.
They were the width of a crossbar away from losing their proud three-year, 58-game unbeaten home league record after Johann Gudmundsson crashed a late shot against the woodwork and that is why Klopp had mixed feelings.
“A good performance in most parts of the game. There were moments when it was Liverpool against Nick Pope,” he said.
“It is the biggest challenge in football to play against a team which is that organised and has such an outstanding attitude like Burnley has.
“We created super chances but there was always one guy who wanted to deny us and it was Nick Pope.
“We should have scored more but I am fine with the performance, for 80 minutes I would say.
“For different reasons this score (1-0) left the door open for Burnley and it was always clear they had corners where Ali (goalkeeper Alisson Becker) was under pressure from three or four players and then free-kicks on top of that.
“I feel like we have lost the game – we didn’t, I know that. It was a draw but I cannot deny it feels like we completely lost the game.”
Klopp was unhappy at the way Burnley targeted Alisson at set-pieces, a tactic he felt impeded the Brazil international.
The Reds boss confronted referee David Coote at the final whistle but accepted that had not been the root of their failure.
“I spoke about the goalkeeper situation. It is not the best moment to talk to the ref but how can you let it happen: a goalie constantly when he comes three players are allowed to block him?” he added.
“For the ref it I was obviously not a foul or a problem so that is why he left it. It had no influence on the result, how I realised later.”
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