Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp takes aim at Manchester United for ‘defending with all they have’ in Anfield draw, as manager admits Reds are facing battle for top four

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appeared to criticise Manchester United for their defensive tactics after Sunday’s disappointing 0-0 draw at Anfield.

The Reds boss admitted his frustration that a team with as much talent as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Red Devils came to Merseyside to sit back and ‘defend with all they have’, despite the ‘world-class players’ in their line-up.

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The clash between the arch rivals didn’t live up to its top-of-the-table billing and, while Liverpool had the best of the opening hour, United could easily have snatched victory in the latter stages.

They were denied by goalkeeper Alisson, who pulled off two good close-range saves to keep out attempts from Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.

But Klopp seemed annoyed Man United didn’t bring their best to the table.

“The worst thing you can face in football is you play against a side with world-class players and they all defend with all they have, deep in the box and are good in counter-attacking,” Klopp told the BBC after the game.

“So it’s really difficult, that’s the biggest challenge.”

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Klopp also conceded his side are facing a tough battle just to qualify for the Champions League this season, after they slipped another place down the Premier League table.

The champions’ goalless draw with United meant their unbeaten record is intact, and now stands at 69 league games without defeat at Anfield, but it also meant they were overtaken in the standings by both Manchester City and Leicester.

Liverpool now sit fourth, three points behind new leaders United.

They are also only five points ahead of ninth-placed West Ham and, in this most unusual of seasons, with points being dropped by all teams, the Reds boss is aware the competition is likely to be closer than ever.

“In the season when we came second (2018-19), the day when I started really thinking about the title race was the day when it was clear that we are in the Champions League,” he said.

“I know my job and I know what I have to do. The most important thing is to qualify for the Champions League and I know how difficult it is. This season will be a tough race for the top four. True.

“I have no idea and I cannot decide how people look at it. I know that football fans in general are not the most patient species on this planet, so they want to win each football game.

“I’m not too different to that but I am long enough in the business to know that you have to go through more difficult periods as well.

“It’s not the most difficult in my life – not even close to it – so it’s just a situation where we play football and have had injuries, still have injuries but got used to the injuries we had in the long term and now players coming back.”