Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp was left at a loss to explain how his side did not complete a comeback win against Arsenal in what he described as a ‘spectacular’ game at Anfield on Sunday.
His side trailed 2-0 after 28 minutes but hit back as Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino secured a 2-2 draw in a game that summed up everything so intoxicating about the Premier League.
The way Liverpool began the game could not have been more different. They were off the pace, sloppy and overwhelmed by Arsenal’s vibrant play for the first half an hour but ended up playing the kind of football that brought them the 2020 title.
“A bit typical for us this season. An open game, completely open, they score with the first situation and the second one,” Klopp said. “Our reaction was good.
“It was a spectacular game in the end. How we didn’t win it with those late chances I don’t know.
“I’m caught in between (being happy and not),” Klopp said. “I have no problems with drawing.
“Arsenal were good but they could and should have lost this game. The point for them is better.”
“The goal we scored helped massively. All of a sudden we were in charge of a wild game. We deserved at least a point.”
Klopp has explained his decision to play Trent Alexander-Arnold as an inverted full-back on Sunday.
The Reds recovered from 2-0 down to earn a share of the spoils against the Gunners, with the England international setting up Roberto Firmino’s late equaliser. However, rather than bombard down the right-flank for the majority of the game, the 24-year-old often pushed inside alongside Fabinho as a second deeper midfielder in front of a back three of Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson.
Such a set-up is similar to systems used by both Man City and Arsenal. And while Klopp would insist it’s not the first time Liverpool have utilised Alexander-Arnold in such a way, he admitted it was more obvious against the Gunners and would take more time for his side to adapt to such a tactic.
“Yeah, it’s not the first time,” he told reporters. “We did that before but maybe it was not that obvious. “Today (Sunday) in the build-up, Trent played more inside. Double six, that’s how it is.
“We need to get used to it, obviously.”
