Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports/Getty
Topics: Liverpool, Aston Villa, Jurgen Klopp, Virgil Van Dijk, Premier League, Football
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Liverpool, Aston Villa, Jurgen Klopp, Virgil Van Dijk, Premier League, Football
Jurgen Klopp has subtly blamed one Liverpool star for his sides collapse at Villa Park, as they saw their 3-1 lead evaporate in the final minutes of the game.
Liverpool took a commanding 3-1 lead with goals from Cody Gakpo, Jarrel Quansah, and an unfortunate own goal by Emi Martinez, who inadvertently dropped the ball into his own net within two minutes of the match.
Despite Villa's efforts to rally, including a disallowed goal from Ollie Watkins due to a narrow offside decision in the second half, they looked to be heading to a potentially damaging defeat.
However, substitute Jhon Duran completely changed the game after coming on in the dying embers of the game.
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With just five minutes remaining, Duran unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, beating Alisson to secure his first goal of the match.
Almost immediately after, he displayed either incredible skill or luck by effortlessly flicking the ball over Allison after it was fired into him by Moussa Diaby.
Following the his side's collapse, Klopp gave his penultimate post-match interview as Liverpool boss and he wasn't exactly pleased with his side's performance.
"Before we changed, we gave them too many chances," he told Sky Sports.
"It was very intense for the boys. They created too much. They were too often in our box and we made the changes."
Despite many blaming Alexis MacAllister for Villa's second goal, Klopp actually directed the blame at Virgil Van Dijk whose loose pass led to Duran's first goal.
"Then we made a mistake. We shouldn't have passed the ball there. It happens but in that moment, it opens the door," Klopp explained.
Despite Liverpool now being mathematically out of the title race, Klopp insisted his side were fully focused despite their uncharacteristic 'bottle' of the lead.
"We wanted to win the game. In the moment, when we gave away the 3-2, that was really tricky. That's it, that's the story of the game," Klopp concluded.