Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Leeds United’s wide areas was the ‘weak’ part of their game and he was seemingly unhappy that Liverpool didn’t target it more, as he told his press conference.
The Liverpool boss watched Crysencio Summerville score a late winner at Anfield on Saturday evening to end Leeds United’s long-wait for three points in the Premier League and ease the pressure on the under-fire Jesse Marsch.
It was a Joe Gomez and Alisson Becker mix-up that saw Rodrigo open the scoring after five minutes, before Mohamed Salah struck back ten minutes later and Klopp shared that, at half-time, he told the players where to ’cause Leeds more problems’ because the middle area of their pitch was ‘compact’.
Liverpool did create numerous chances and they should have mustered more from the ten shots on target, only for Illan Meslier to have the game of his life.
But, whilst that attacking bite wasn’t there for the struggling Merseyside club, it was the same old problems at the back and Leeds pounced on it.
That was a statement win for the Yorkshire club, especially given that was the first defeat in 30 league matches at Anfield for the Reds, as Klopp shared his thoughts after the match.
“At half-time, telling the boys again where are the areas where we can cause them more problems,” said Klopp. “In the centre, they were very compact and the wings were the weak part, let me say it like this.
“That’s where we created in the first half and where we should have created in the second. We put them under pressure. We did that, not free-flowing football, but the boys really tried.
“Two big chances, which we don’t use, so that means that the game is still open. Then we concede a second goal in a situation where it’s obvious that you can’t defend like that, it’s clear.”
MARSCH AND LEEDS STICK THEIR CHEST OUT
Prior to yesterday’s game, there were some calling for Marsch’s head, with their defeat to Fulham last week resulting in the American getting booed by the Elland Road faithful and chants of ‘sack the board’ from the fans.
Whilst the Leeds supporters will still be unhappy with the Leeds board, this result and performance helps Marsch because it will now probably see him head to the break for the 2022 World Cup still in a job.
That probably wouldn’t have been the case if they fell to an expected loss at Anfield and then followed it up by dropping points against Bournemouth.
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