The word ‘frustrating’ doesn’t even begin to sum up Monday’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland, especially after ending 2016 with a win over Manchester City.
We can complain all we want about the quick and perhaps unfair turnaround between the two games but it happened and is something that we had to deal with. It wasn’t the start to 2017 that we had all hoped for and possibly predicted but it posed as a valuable wake up call ahead of a crucial period of our season.
Jurgen Klopp was quick to praise his players for their efforts but understandably couldn’t disguise his disappointment over the questionable decision during the build up to Sunderland’s late equaliser.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: “Both goals we conceded – the first one, after a throw-in I think, [Didier] Ndong runs into the box and the referee gives a penalty and the second one it was not a free-kick.”
“Sadio has the ball on his arm so it’s handball, but it’s not a free-kick before, there wasn’t even contact. But we have to accept this and so they scored goals and us only two, so the result is 2-2.”
“I could describe the game of course, but I don’t know what I could’ve expected, that’s the problem. After [a] one-day break only, I’m surprised by the physical performance and proud of what they did.”
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Sadio Mane with some confidence boosting words on his Liverpool teammates
It wasn’t a free kick but that’s no excuse for failing to see the game out.
Monday’s disappointment is something for this team to move on from. This weekend’s FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle is not only a great opportunity to get some confidence back but it is a chance to give some of our key players a rest and experiment with a different team and system.
We go again, Reds.