Jurgen Klopp has reflected on a ‘really hard’ defeat for Liverpool after his side lost 4-3 to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Reds’ pursuit of a quadruple in Klopp’s final season came crashing to an end at Old Trafford, as Amad Diallo scored a 120th-minute winner for the home side in extra time.
Liverpool responded to Scott McTominay’s early goal to lead before half-time, but conceded an 87th-minute equaliser as Antony and Manchester United pushed the cup contest into an additional 30 minutes.
Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike then looked like securing Liverpool’s passage to the semi-finals, only for Marcus Rashford to equalise and set the stage for Diallo’s dramatic winner.
Caught upfield at a set-pice, Liverpool were punished on the counter-attack as Manchester United booked a semi-final showdown with Coventry City.
“Obviously today was on and above the edge, it was really tough for us with the 130 or whatever minutes. United had the clear best start, it was obvious, they scored the early goal. We had to organise ourselves a little bit better, we struggled with the man-marking, didn’t play enough, all these kinds of things,” Klopp said at his post-match press conference.
“In the moment when we found for the first time a way to play then we get rhythm and then it looked really good. Then we were absolutely deserved 2-1 up. And second half was exceptional, absolutely exceptional what we played here.
“But we didn’t finish the game off and when you leave the door open away from home at Old Trafford, it’s clear they will get chances. They could score the equaliser and Marcus big chance at the end of normal time, so they can win it there. I see that, it’s clear. Then it got really hard for us, then it was really hard for us. That was now the first time that I really saw my team struggling, that’s how it is. We played a lot of football recently.
“Then we go 3-2 up, all good. Then they score, 3-3, 4-3. Come on, easily can accept that, congratulations to United, they fought extremely hard as well. That’s how it is, you want to go to the semi-finals. I think everybody who saw the game today saw two teams who both understood the importance of the occasion and the competition. We tried absolutely everything. Today we didn’t get a lot for it, not to say nothing.
“So, now the boys have to recover, it’s really tough – they fly now all around the world pretty much and in five or six days’ time play the first of two games. Let’s really hope and pray they come all back healthy and then we will start the rest of the season. So many good things I saw today. The mood today, when you think about in general the game without being Liverpool and Man United, you think, OK, that was quite some football. And that’s exactly how it should be. I’m happy with that part. Not with the result obviously.”
