(Reuters) – Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance in their 3-2 Europa League defeat to Toulouse, stating that they were outplayed in crucial moments.
Despite beating Toulouse 5-1 at home last month, Liverpool are currently leading Group E with nine points from four matches, holding a two-point lead over Toulouse with two games remaining.
“It was well deserved to lose because they won pretty much all the decisive challenges, battles,” Klopp told reporters, acknowledging the team’s shortcomings in crucial situations.
He also highlighted the team’s failure to win key ball possessions throughout the game.
Following their draw at Luton Town on Sunday, this defeat marks the second disappointing result for Liverpool in a week, but Klopp emphasized that the team did not lack intensity.
“No, I am not concerned. In the end, we were intense – we threw everything in,” he added.
However, Klopp acknowledged the team’s struggle to make crucial decisions at the right moments, particularly in defending against conceded goals.
During the match, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s potential late equalizer was disallowed due to a handball, prompting Klopp to question the referee’s decision.
“I only saw the video back now and for me it’s not a handball,” Klopp said, expressing his disagreement with the referee’s call.
“The ball goes to the chest and then I don’t see a contact with the arm, to be honest. Maybe they had a different picture than I had.”
(Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
