LONDON – Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said there is no Hollywood ending in sight to his side’s struggles after a 0-0 draw at struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Reds travelled to Selhurst Park low on confidence after a 5-2 humiliation at home by Real Madrid in the Champions League in midweek.
A point edges Liverpool up to seventh in the English Premier League, but they are still six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Klopp’s men came close to an unprecedented quadruple of trophies last season, but have looked a shadow of that side this term.
“We’ve spoiled ourselves with a lot of things, but we cannot suffer because of our own history. That would now be really a joke,” he said.
“This will not be the season that everybody (looks for) in the history books... it will not be big movies about it or stuff like this. But we have to go through it anyway and we will.”
Palace remain without a win in nine games, but a draw takes the Eagles six points clear of the relegation zone.
Liverpool had appeared to be building some momentum with two consecutive Premier League wins, before being brought back to earth with a bang by the European champions in midweek.
A lack of energy has been one of the major factors behind the Reds’ fall from grace this season but Klopp put his trust in experience.
The return of James Milner, Naby Keita and Joel Matip, among four changes, took the average age of Klopp’s starting line-up to over 29.
The older heads helped steady the ship, but the visitors were lacking in inspiration going forward without the injured Darwin Nunez.
“You feel something is not right, but it’s an away point and it’s OK,” added Klopp. “It’s not brilliant, but it’s OK.”
Jean-Philippe Mateta wasted Palace’s best chance when he smashed against the bar from close range after Trent Alexander-Arnold had been robbed by Jeffrey Schlupp.
Said Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira: “One of the frustrations we have as team is creating opportunities and not taking them.
“Especially against teams like Liverpool, we knew that it would be difficult to create chances.
“We managed to do so and didn’t take them. That is something we have to improve and do better.”
The Reds’ best chances involved Mohamed Salah, whose curling effort came back off the crossbar.
Salah was the creator for Liverpool’s other big chance to take all three points, but Cody Gakpo’s attempted dink over the on-rushing Vicente Guaita sailed wide.
Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp described his former team as “fragile” with “extremely low confidence”, but said they can still finish in the top four.
He told Sky Sports: “Everything can turn if they win on March 5 (against Manchester United) and win in midweek (against Wolverhampton Wanderers).
“All of a sudden, the top four becomes a realistic ambition.
“They are damaged, the confidence is low, but I still think they are capable of getting top four with that squad.”
AFP, REUTERS
