Jurgen Klopp has demanded a reaction from Liverpool after his team lost to title rivals Arsenal last weekend.
Liverpool’s 15-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end in North London, with the Reds’ lead at the top of the table reduced after a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates.
Klopp’s side were second-best on a disappointing afternoon in the capital and the German has demanded a reaction from his team when Burnley visit Anfield tomorrow.
“We lost a game and it felt like that, definitely,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“People told me after that you only lost Tottenham before that, and then [Manchester] City. I didn’t feel for a second like that. If you want it felt like we lost in one game, five games – but not because the situation with table, just because we lost the game and we didn’t play particularly good game.
“A few days before we played, in parts, our best game of the season, a complete performance against Chelsea. Top class. Arsenal played a good game, it’s always a challenge, we don’t take these things lightly and we have to show a reaction.
“The time on the ball wasn’t even close to our standards. It all comes with the way we defend and that was the main talking point, so that’s what we have to do much better. If we do that then we will be much better.”
Klopp provided an update on the fitness of Thiago Alcantara, who suffered a setback on his return to the team. The Spaniard made his first appearance in 10 months as a late substitute against Arsenal, but is now facing another spell on the sidelines.
“The situation with Thiago is obviously not cool,” Klopp said.
“Everything looked fantastic in training but then it happened, it’s a muscle issues and we don’t know the extent yet. It’s not good news for him or the club, on top of losing the game.
Asked whether Thiago would return this season, Klopp added: “Yes, but we really didn’t think about that in the moment, we just looked at the injury and got a full assessment dome and knowing where it came from. It’s not intensity, stuff like this, they are different things.
“It’s not a big, big injury, definitely not, but it’s something nobody needed.”
