sport news The malfunctioning of the Mentality Monsters: Angry Jurgen Klopp has a big job ... trends now
Mentality and resilience have been the key themes underpinning Liverpool’s season. But on this occasion, the Mentality Monsters malfunctioned. Instead of fighting to the last second like so often, this was an utterly bizarre show of game management.
It meant the Reds players could have few complaints at the result as they trudged back along the East Lancashire Road following this energy-zapping defeat. The star-studded squad will now jet across the world to start an international break with a tinge of regret.
‘We didn’t finish the game off,’ was the summary of Jurgen Klopp. And he’s right - his team had this win in the bag twice. But lapses in concentration and sloppy mistakes led Liverpool to contrive to throw away what would have been a seismic step in their hunt for four trophies.
They had a lucky escape with one of the last kicks of regulation time when Marcus Rashford narrowly poked a shot wide after the Liverpool defence was rocking from throwing away the win late on and were carved open too easily.
Rashford’s poor effort from point-blank range made one wonder if it was written in the stars for Klopp to conquer all he surveys in his Last Dance in English football. But instead he finds himself with a big task to soothe the wounds of a bruising defeat to his team’s bitter rivals.
Liverpool twice led but ended up on the wrong side of the tie after a dramatic 120 minutes
Jurgen Klopp admitted his Liverpool side failed to finish the game off against Man United
Darwin Nunez was punished for giving the ball away in the build-up to Marcus Rashford's goal
When Rashford finally did score, it came from a touch of inexperience from Darwin Nunez as he was cheaply robbed of possession in his own half. United’s winner was a great counter-attack but they were given the licence to roam with Klopp’s defence nowhere to be seen.
That goal came from a Liverpool corner. Yes, Klopp’s men should not be criticised for throwing men forward in search of late goals - it would be hypocritical to mark Liverpool down for something that led them to the 99th-minute winner at Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.
But the way
