Jurgen Klopp Refuse To GIVE UP On Title Race, As He Believes That The Results Against Man United Had Led To Liverpool's Recent Loss Of Momentum And Poor Performance.

Jurgen Klopp believes that the impact of damaging results against rivals Manchester United has led to Liverpool’s recent loss of momentum in the title race.

The Reds boss had hoped for a positive reaction after last week's 2-2 draw at Man United, followed by the Thursday midweek Europa League quarter-final first leg disastrous 3-0 defeat at Anfield against Atalanta.

Liverpool suffered another faltering display at home against Crystal Palace on Sunday that saw them lose 1-0, and leaves them two points behind leaders and current holders Manchester City with six games left to play.

Crystal Palace capitalised on a strong start to take a 14th-minute lead through Eberechi Eze which proved to be the winner, as the Reds suffered a league defeat at Anfield for the first time since October 2022.

It was the fourth time in five league games Klopp has seen his team concede first at Anfield. 

Despite the host creating a number of chances, particularly in the second half, it was all thwarted by a combination of poor finishing or stubborn Palace defending.

Klopp puffed his cheeks and shook his head at the final whistle, and was left to bemoan a performance that produced 21 efforts at goal - six on target - without scoring.

Eberechi Eze's strike marked the 21st time Liverpool have fallen behind in 32 league games this season and, unlike on many previous occasions, this time there was no coming back.

They have recovered a remarkable 27 points from losing positions this season but failed to learn the lessons of handing out early gifts.

In his post match feeling, Jurgen Klopp told reporters after the game that he felt his side had played a ‘good game, without scoring’.

When asked the reason why the Merseysiders had fallen short amid a push for a second league title under the German tactician, he told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport): “Where it’s coming from? How can I answer that one 100%?

“But it’s only a few days ago that we played a bad game so it might have something to do with that.

“Actually it was a really good game, without scoring. But it’s not that easy unfortunately.”

Klopp, however, pinpointed the 4-3 result at Old Trafford – the dramatic FA Cup loss that ended Liverpool’s quadruple bid last month – as where they started to run out of steam, and led to his side's recent downturn in fortunes.

Having already secured the Carabao Cup back in February, Liverpool were on course to mark Klopp's final season at Anfield with a remarkable quadruple heading into their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Man United in mid-March.

Despite having 25 shots on goal throughout the game, and dominating for large periods, the Reds remarkably found a way to lose said quarter-final in extra time - Amad Diallo scored a 122nd winner for the Red Devils.

Since that defeat, Liverpool's form both domestically and on the continent has noticeably dipped, with Klopp's side now having gone three games without a win in all competitions.

“I think the problem is, a little bit, that I’m not 100 percent sure that, in general, how we dealt with the United games helped... He said .

“We lost the game in the cup and it was like a catastrophe because we were that good and lost it anyway.

“Then we drew there but were really good for a long spell. We have conceded a little bit.

“That’s now not the reason for today, the problems we had in the United games were completely different to the things we had today, but obviously we expected a reaction.

“We lost in that [United] game more than only the game. It didn’t help.”

He further warned his players who he feels were not at their best that they will not be champions if they repeat their performance against Crystal Palace.

“The goal we conceded – [Eze] ends up completely free in the box, that cannot happen. We had other moments where we were just not together.

“The second half is a really good home game. I’m not sure they had chances but we had a lot – big ones where everybody would think that should be a goal, and other moments where we were nearly there.

“We had momentum, we could put them under pressure, but in the end it was not enough. We have to admit that.”

When asked what the defeat means in the title race, he told the media; “I am not dumb. The answer is pretty easy. If we play like in the first half, why should we win the league? If we play like in the second half, we can win football games.”

Meanwhile, Palace’s victory was only their second in seven matches under new manager Oliver Glasner but it eased their fears of being sucked into a relegation battle.

The Palace boss lauds his side's “passion and spirit” in the game.

“It is a fantastic win and congratulations to the team for the performance and first half, for the performance in playing football and the confidence we had and the chances we created.... Glasner said.

“And congratulations for the passion and spirit we had in the second. We had a fantastic goalkeeper today in Dean [Henderson] and an outstanding passion today to defend as a team.

“That is the reason we kept the clean sheet and won this game.”