LONDON – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had sympathy for Leicester’s Wout Faes, after the defender scored two calamitous own goals as the Reds won 2-1 in their Premier League clash at Anfield on Friday.
The Belgian centre-back miscued a clearance in the 38th minute to hand Liverpool the equaliser, after Leicester took a surprise fourth-minute lead through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and then put the ball into his net again on the stroke of half-time.
“I had that once in my career – that a player scored two own goals. I really feel for him. Honestly, because it was absolutely unlucky,” said Klopp.
“The first, how can it be more unlucky? And the second one, if you have ever played football, you go full speed in that situation, direction of the goal, you would expect the ball goes in. That’s what your brain tells you and in the moment when you realise it is not going in, it is going to the post, you can’t react any more.
“These things happen. Yes, of course I feel sympathy – there is absolutely space for that, but whatever I say now will not change it.”
Liverpool, who stay sixth with 28 points from 16 games, will consider themselves lucky after a stuttering performance with both clubs guilty of missing good chances.
“We are here to get results and that’s what we did tonight,” added Klopp, whose side have now won four league games on the trot.
“But we lose balls at the wrong moments and we were too open at times. We have to take the result and momentum but have to play better in our next match against Brentford.”
After they lost a 10th league game of the season, Leicester were 13th with 17 points from 17 matches, four above the relegation zone, before Saturday’s round of matches.
They had grabbed the lead as Liverpool were caught out by a long clearance from goalkeeper Danny Ward, followed by two quick touches that put Dewsbury-Hall away on goal.
He ran almost half the length of the pitch, outpacing the defence, to score.
Leicester looked good value for their advantage, until Faes’ miscued clearance from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross looped up over Ward, who had called for the ball, into the back of the Leicester net from a tight angle.
Faes was under no pressure as he attempted to hack the ball clear, giving away a cheap, although unfortunate, equaliser.
He was also unlucky with Liverpool’s second seven minutes later, chasing back as Darwin Nunez’s chipped effort hit the Leicester post and rebounded back into play, hitting the onrushing Faes on the knee and flying into the net.
“He has come back a bit rusty, not playing at the World Cup with Belgium, and it’s going to take him time to get back to speed. But he’s also been fantastic for us this season. It was unfortunate for him tonight,” said Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah had three second-half chances to increase the home side’s lead, while Nunez came close with an effort that whistled over the bar with 12 minutes left.
Leicester, who lost 3-0 at home to Newcastle on Boxing Day in their first league game back after the World Cup break, also created some decent chances, notably for Harvey Barnes, who tormented Liverpool down the left-hand side.
He hit the woodwork in the last 10 minutes but Leicester were offside in the build-up.
Liverpool are away at Brentford on Monday while Leicester next host Fulham on Tuesday. REUTERS
