Jurgen Klopp Blames The Ball For Adrian's Mistake For Willian's Goal

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp refused to blame goalkeeper Adrian for Willian's opener against Chelsea in the FA Cup loss, instead claiming the ball and the forward's technique were to blame.

The Reds' were knocked out of the FA Cup and lost for the third time in four games when Frank Lampard's side won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

In the first half Willian's shot went straight at goalkeeper for the night Adrian but the former West Ham number one failed to catch the ball and merely palmed it into the back of the net.

Speaking after the match his manager instead blamed the movement of the ball, "The first goal, we lose a ball, what was it 18, 19 yards in front of the goal?" Klopp explained.

"The specific characteristic of the ball and Willian's shooting technique made life really difficult."

Klopp did attribute some blame to his own team, suggesting that they weren't ready for the keeper to play out the back, adding, "Before that Adrian saved a sensational ball. He caught the ball and quick restart, which was a good idea, but not everybody was ready.

"Fabinho was surprised by the pass. We wanted to play like this but we lose that ball and they finish it off."

It's not the first time that the former Borussia Dortmund boss has found things outside of his control to blame failure to win on.

In the past he has blamed the state of the pitch, wind, and how dry the pitch was on his side's failure to win games, although not this season where they've mainly been successful.

There was nothing that Adrian, playing in the place of usual keeper Alisson, could do about the second goal as Ross Barkley powered through midfield and slotted home to double the Blues' lead.

Liverpool had chances early on in the match, forcing Kepa, back in the Chelsea team after being dropped recently, into a triple save, but they failed to test the goalie later in the game.

Whilst Klopp's side are still likely to win the league their three recent losses, to Atletico Madrid, Watford and Chelsea, have come without them being able to register a goal and is a worrying trend for the manager.

Can they recover form to overturn the deficit to Atleti?