Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool’s 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Chelsea is a ‘massive blow’ for their top four hopes.
Mason Mount scored the winner in the 42nd minute as Chelsea won at Anfield for the first time since 2014.
The result leaves Liverpool four points adrift of the top four and in dire need of a home goal.
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They’ve failed to score at Anfield in more than ten hours and didn’t look like doing so against Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Liverpool failed to register a shot on target until the final ten minutes. Even then, they didn’t test keeper Edouard Mendy.
Reacting to the defeat, Klopp told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport): “The individual quality of Mason Mount in that moment made the difference. It was a tight game, intense game. Both teams invested a lot.
“They had the goal they scored which was offside. The second half another counter attack, we had more situations around, the great one with Sadio Mane and other situations where we did not score.
“You have to defend differently and we didn’t do well there. There are a lot of things out there you have to consider. In the end we conceded one goal, we made the mistake there, the other was offside and you can say it was good defending but with all the possession we had you need to have more chances. Everything was really good until the final pass.
“Unfortunately we cannot say it is only at home. It is not about Anfield, it is in general, too often. In the decisive moments we have to improve. We have to show our quality in these moments and we don’t do that often enough.”
In a surprise move, Klopp brought off Mo Salah and Thiago in the second half.
When asked about the decision, the German boss said: “I just brought on fresh legs. Mo looked like today he suffered a bit, he played a lot of games. I could have taken off Sadio [Mane] or Bobby [Firmino], that is all clear but at that moment it looked like Mo.
“[James] Milner we bought on to wake them up a bit and keep them in the game because we needed one situation.
“It is a massive blow. It is not done yet.”
Klopp will be desperate for a reaction in their next match. They face Fulham on Sunday at 14:00.