Liverpool have suffered a shock loss to bottom of the table Swansea City.
Jurgen Klopp’s side lost an unpredictable game in frustrating circumstances that could signal the end of their title ambitions.
If Chelsea win on Sunday at home to Hull City. Sorry, when Chelsea win at home to Hull City, they will go 10 points clear of Liverpool.
Two goals from Fernando Llorente gave Swansea a 2-0 lead just after the second-half resumed. Roberto Firmino then scored a brace and the score was level with 20-minutes to play.
But the Liverpool defence had a collective brain fart and Gylfi Sigurdsson slotted home with 16-minutes to go. Swansea held-on and moved out of the relegation zone.
In search of an equaliser, Klopp sent-on Joel Matip in stoppage-time. The 6’5 central defender went forward and Liverpool attempted to hit long passes towards him and pick-up the second ball.
Such direct tactics are common when a team is trying to salvage something from a game, and Klopp was arguably correct to instruct his team to play direct.
However, some found it ironic that, just a few days after appearing to criticise of Manchester United’s “long-balls”, the Liverpool manager was employing an identical tactic.
“It is so intense. They play long balls, it was a wild game. There was a lot of action in the last few minutes,” Klopp said following the 1-1 draw against United at Old Trafford last Sunday.
Those comments were always going to be mentioned after his team went direct in the final minutes of the Swansea game.
Last week – Klopp criticises Man Utd for going long ball.
This week – Klopp puts Joel Matip on as centre forward… pic.twitter.com/GsUpsjF5u8
— 888sport (@888sport) January 21, 2017
Matip as a striker but klopp doesn't like long ball football..
— Seerat Asghar (@Seerat_Asghar) January 21, 2017
How is Klopp's neck after all those long balls at the end?
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) January 21, 2017
There is nothing wrong with going down the long ball route. It's just weird how Klopp had such a problem with it, and then used it.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) January 21, 2017
Jurgen Klopp, who moaned about #MUFC long ball tactics last week, is now playing Joel Matip upfront.
— Sean Lunt (@Sean_Lunt) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/Caddies/status/822810335438667776
Are Liverpool now going 'long' with Matip up top? Didn't Klopp object to Utd doing that last week?!?
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) January 21, 2017
When Jürgen Klopp complains about Man Utd playing long balls & then he brings on Joel Matip to play up front.https://t.co/sYmHVTM9es
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 21, 2017
Klopp, who was exasperated with Man Utd lumping balls to Fellaini last week, has just put Matip on upfront.
— Rich Arrowsmith (@RichArrowsmith) January 21, 2017
There's simply nothing wrong with long balls. You do what you need to win. Weird Klopp had such an issue with it when he did it himself
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawTel) January 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/Georgestanden1/status/822818715246936064
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live
