[ad_1]
(Reuters) – Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said Sunday’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion felt like a defeat and that his players were angry about missing a chance to go five points clear in the Premier League.
Liverpool were on track to take all three points at Anfield after Sadio Mane put them ahead at 12 minutes, but Semi Ajayi’s late header denied them victory.
Klopp said he expected a more disciplined performance from Liverpool, which are three points clear of Everton, in Wednesday’s game against Newcastle United, their last game of the year.
“He does (it feels like a loss), but we have one more point than before so he’s completely fine,” Klopp told reporters.
“The guys are angrier than anything else because they know it wasn’t perfect, but that’s it… now we have to play the next game in three days.
“We have to be disciplined too, in a different way. We have to do both, be offensive, active, creative and defend … In the end, we draw a Premier League game, that can happen ”.
Liverpool no longer have defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez due to long-term injuries and could be without Joel Matip for the trip to St James’ Park after he suffered an adductor problem.
“Joel is injured and this is not the first time a central midfielder has been injured,” Klopp added. “Of course it’s not good, especially now that I was in great shape again, but we can’t change that. We just have to accept it and move on. “
Report from Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Edited by Peter Rutherford
