Understandably, Jürgen Klopp was frustrated that his Liverpool side didn’t win at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Leading through James Milner’s first half penalty, they were pegged back by Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s equaliser with six minutes to go. Immediately before that, Marouane Fellaini – introduced as a substitute late on – had hit the post with a header.
Speaking after the game, Klopp had highlighted that United’s change to long ball tactics had caused his side problems.
“In the end period of the game when United started playing long balls – to Marouane Fellaini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – after 80 minutes of high intense football, it is really hard,” he said.
“I hoped we would have a bit of luck. Unfortunately not, but all good.
“It is so intense. They play long balls, it was a wild game. There was a lot of action in the last few minutes.”
Many United fans were left amused by the comments, suggesting the Liverpool manager was simply bitter that his side had failed to win.
Ludicrous to complain about "long balls" most defenders would happily face them all day long, Klopp's bitter cos his side bottled it…
— Jay Motty (@JayMotty) January 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/_ManishPandey/status/820699301156442112
Used to like klopp but god he's such a sore loser. Whining about "long balls" as if it's a criminal offence..
— ktn. (@BlundrMaster) January 16, 2017
And as pointed out by the tweet below, it’s not so long ago that Klopp was deploying similar tactics himself.
Just over a year ago, Klopp’s Liverpool side held Arsenal 3-3 at Anfield, with Joe Allen scoring a stoppage time equaliser to deny Arsenal the three points. In that game, Klopp had given a debut to 6’3″ defender Steven Caulker, sending him on in an advanced position in the game’s final minutes.
Using some screenshots of the Mirror article about that particular game, the tweet reads: ‘Klopp moaning about long balls to Fellaini because he’s good at winning headers & it led to a goal. He wouldn’t dream of doing that would he?’
Klopp moaning about long balls to Fellaini because he's good at winning headers & it led to a goal.. He wouldn't dream of that would he?🐸☕ pic.twitter.com/rVM3VlG4j7
— SJ (@sarahjayneeee_) January 16, 2017
How times change.
