Jürgen Klopp said Liverpool must learn to adapt to positive pressure and defensive opposition after the manager was left bewildered by his team’s performance against an injury‑hit 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.
He described the goalless draw at Old Trafford as a point gained and a missed opportunity as his Liverpool side returned to the top of the Premier League at the expense of Manchester City.
Klopp’s charges managed only a single shot on target with David de Gea enjoying a quiet afternoon, Daniel Sturridge’s tame effort from distance the only work he was forced into.
The struggles of Liverpool’s front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Firmino came after they also struggled to break down Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash at Anfield in mid-week.
“Mo [Salah] said this week: ‘Of course there is pressure,’ and from my point of view it is very positive pressure but I don’t have to play; I sit here and say dumb things and that is easy.
“For the boys they all have to learn in these situations. The only way we can do it is with passion. The heart and soul of this club is passion and on Wednesday night we have another chance [against Watford], then there is a derby which is a very emotional game.
“This game was a fight but a different fight to what we expected and we didn’t adapt like we should have. But that is not class or whatever. We know where we are coming from and where we are.
“Today was not brilliant but we lose here more often than we drew. It feels like we should have won but it was the same against Bayern when they came and defended with all they have. Something changed in the world of football – everyone adapted to it and we have to make sure we adapt.”
Klopp’s overall feelings were captured on TV on the final whistle when he was less than complimentary about the game. Having kept a clean sheet despite losing three players to hamstring injuries inside 43 minutes, however, United’s caretaker manager took an opposing view.
The Merseyside outfit also endured similar problems against Leicester and West Ham in recent weeks amid fears their title challenge could be derailed by a lack of spark and killer instinct in the final third.