Klopp blames Southampton mentality as Liverpool toil

Michael Graham

Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool deserved to beat Southampton but was unhappy with the Saints’ defensive tactics in the 0-0 draw at Anfield. 

Liverpool toiled but struggled to create chances, though also saw a James Milner penalty saved by Southampton keeper Fraser Forster.

Klopp, though, was reluctant to criticise his side and pointed to Southampton’s defensive mentality when explaining the dropped points.

“I thought our performance was good enough to win,” he told Sky Sports. “Southampton  wanted to come here and somehow get a point, or more, and I’m fine with defending.

“They did not create anything and we had a hard job to do. To play against 10 deep defending Southampton players is very difficult. We could have scored, that would have opened them up a bit. it is a point more but doesn’t feel like that.

The result leaves the Liverpool still uncertain of their fate this season, and opened up opportunities for Manchester United and Arsenal to bump them out of the top four. Klopp, though, has urged supporters not to panic.

“It is not finished yet. We all have to play our games. We go to West Ham and try to win and that’s all we can do. We try everything and we do not stop.”

On James Milner’s penalty miss, he added: “He should not blame himself – that is football. Him scoring would have helped of course but that is not the only decisive thing today.”