Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was unimpressed with Manchester United’s tactics in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, saying ‘it’s a fact’ the Red Devils always set up to defend against his side.
The Reds, without injured Mo Salah, dominated possession and had more shots on target, but they needed a 85th minute equaliser from Adam Lallana to draw with a United side who are just two points above the relegation zone.
It’s the first time Liverpool have dropped points in the Premier League in 18 games, while their lead at the top of the Premier League has been cut from eight to six points.
Klopp was left fuming with VAR after Marcus Rashford’s first-half opener was allowed despite, the boss claims, Divock Origi being fouled in the build-up.
But the German, who has failed to win in five visits to Old Trafford, was also frustrated by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s apparently negative tactics.
“This year, last year, the year before, they just defend,” said the Reds boss.
“That’s how it is. It is OK. It is no criticism. It is just a fact.
“When you think about Manchester United against Liverpool, you think both teams are trying like this. But it is not. We try.
“We are the one team where everyone is on their toes when United play against us.
“We don’t have to say it is a compliment. We are a good team. When you play against somebody it is normal for them to think about how they can stop us.
“But one day I will really wait for the day when they have to make the game against us and we defend – and let’s see how that is.
“Whoever said before the game that this game is always built up like a mountain and stuff like that and then we come here and they only have to defend.
“Since I’ve been in England it’s pretty much been like that. We come here put it all together, attitude, tactical defensive shapes.
“Eight players defending, with the quality of Man United, it’s not easy. We expect to play much better than we did today.”
Unsurprisingly, Solskjaer did not agree.
Both of United’s two Premier League wins this season, against Chelsea and Leicester, came after playing on the counter-attack, and it worked against the Reds with Daniel James and Rashford combining to open the scoring on the break on Sunday.
“We set the team up to attack and be aggressive and create chances and we did that,” said the Norwegian.
“We are better when we attack quickly, with no dilly-dallying on the ball. We need to be more direct, take more risks and be braver. It doesn’t matter if you lose the ball higher up the pitch because you can win it back.
“That is more or less how Liverpool did it in the Champions League final [against Tottenham] and after 40 seconds they won a penalty. It’s playing the right type of football, and being more direct helped us.”
