After their loss to Arsenal, Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool are not in contention to win the Premier League. The Reds also lost two players in the 3-2 loss, Luis Diaz to a knee injury and Trent Alexander-Arnold – a twisted ankle.
Martinelli scored the first goal in the opening seconds of the tie between Arsenal and Liverpool. It was not just the fastest goal scored by Arsenal. It signalled a long afternoon for Jurgen Klopp and his boys. Most of the pre-match talk had been about the poor form of Liverpool and how bad Trent Alexander-Arnold was as a defender.
The England right-back looked bemused as Arsenal scored, with the goal coming from his wing. It was a look that seemed to ask – why me? As the cameras panned to Trent’s face, even Klopp looked out of ideas on how to defend his right-back.
Perhaps a closer look would suggest that Alexander-Arnold is not the only problem. Virgil van Dijk has suffered a severe dip in form, but it has gone under the radar. Liverpool are a wreck, and Klopp knows it. The German tactician may have held some hope of reining in the leading pack, but the German may have given up. After the loss to Arsenal at the Emirates, Klopp said, Liverpool was no longer in the title race.
Liverpool no longer in the title race
If the message was blurry, it became clear as possible to Jurgen Klopp and his heavy metal rock side. The message is simple, this term Liverpool is way below Championship stuff. Up against teams like Manchester City, Chelsea and perhaps Tottenham, there is plenty of ground to cover.
The loss to Arsenal was jarring. The Reds looked like a pale shadow of their past as Arsenal bossed the game. Arteta showed he has grown as a manager and would be a massive revelation if he leads the Gunners to their first Premier League title since 2004.
Following the 3-2 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, Jurgen Klopp confessed that they were no longer in the title race. Liverpool is now tenth on the log with 10 points from eight games and sits 1 point behind the league leaders Arsenal.
According to Klopp, Liverpool has problems, and after two wins from eight games, the Reds are not in the title race. Klopp, however, took solace in the problems Liverpool caused Arsenal problems on the day.
How it happened
The game started at a frenetic pace, and the goal by Gabriel Martinelli after 58 seconds set the tone for the match. Arsenal carved the Liverpool defence open to score the first goal. Another point of solace for Klopp was that his summer signing Darwin Nunez scored. The Uruguayan striker got the equalizer, but late into added time of the first half, Bukayo Saka restored the lead for the Gunners.
The second half started with Liverpool taking the game to Arsenal, and Roberto Firmino drew the Reds level again with eight minutes played. From then on, it was end to end as both sides searched for a winner. Arsenal got the lifeline they needed. The ref awarded Arsenal a hotly contested penalty that Bukayo Saka scored in the 76th minute.
Liverpool have a game in hand but trails the top four teams. Of course, Jurgen Klopp had plenty to complain about, but he insists that his side will go out there and fight. Klopp believes his side is shorn of confidence at the moment but insists they will get it right.
There were two casualties for Liverpool in the game. Luis Diaz could not finish the first half due to a knee injury. He left the stadium in crutches wearing a knee brace. Trent Alexander-Arnold left at halftime with an ankle problem Klopp says is bad. The German said his full-back twisted his ankle.
Liverpool next plays Rangers in the Champions League, while a tie with Manchester City is for the weekend.
