'It was never our game,' laments Klopp after Reds' stumble

Manager laments his side playing 'the game Bournemouth wanted us to play' after 1-0 defeat to Cherries ahead of Real Madrid clash

HARD WATCH: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. Pic: PA Wire

Jürgen Klopp found himself at a loss to explain how his Liverpool team, having beaten Manchester United 7-0 last Sunday, flopped to a 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Mohamed Salah missed Liverpool’s first Premier League penalty of the season in the second half and Klopp’s team could not find an equaliser to Philip Billing’s first-half goal, damaging hopes of a top-four place.

“It was never really our game,” said Klopp. “We were dominant in the first half but mostly we put ball in at the wrong moment against a compact side … the game was played the opposite of the way we wanted. I think we played for 95 minutes the game Bournemouth wanted us to play.”