Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool have to learn to cope with the pressure of being embroiled in a tense title race after their frustrating 0-0 draw at Manchester United.
Klopp’s side squandered the chance to go three points clear at the top of the table in a dour stalemate against their bitter rivals and hold only one-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.
Klopp now admits Liverpool are having a problem breaking down the defences of the very best.
Just five days after a goalless Champions League draw against Bayern Munich, the Reds fired a second successive blank in the similarly scoreless Premier League stalemate at Manchester United on Sunday.
The Reds have this season become adept at finding a way through against teams outside the top six, having only dropped four points against such opposition.
“When a top team plays really defensive, it’s not nice,” said the Reds boss. “We had to fight (against United), it was a fight, but it was a different fight to what we expected and we didn’t adapt as we thought we should.
“Today was not brilliant but we lost here more often than we’ve drawn and today we have a point where we think we should have won, exactly the same as against Bayern.
“They (United) had defence with all they had. Everything has changed in football and we have to show we can adapt with our quality.”
Klopp added: “People can say Man City are playing better, but we don’t compare ourselves to that. We have to get the points our own way.
“There are different ways to be successful and so far we are successful. That is 100% true. There have been a bit too many draws in the last couple of games, but we are still where we are.”
The Reds – who saw Roberto Firmino limp off with an ankle problem in the first half – entertain Watford on Wednesday before the Goodison derby against Everton on Sunday.
“We cannot say there isn’t pressure. Of course there is. From my point of view it is a very positive pressure, but I don’t have to play. I only sit here and say dumb things. That’s easy.
“For the boys, they have to learn in these situations. The only way we can do that is with passion. The heart and soul of this club is passion and that’s what we do.
“On Wednesday night there’s another chance, and then there’s a derby, it’s always a very emotional game, again passion.”