Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was not happy with his side’s finishing in their 3-3 draw with Brentford, insisting the Reds should’ve scored more goals to win the game. Goalscorer Mohamed Salah wasted a golden opportunity in particular to make it 4-2 and Klopp hinted that he felt the Egyptian should’ve found the back of the net to kill the game despite scoring earlier on.
Liverpool initially went 1-0 down as Ethan Pinnock fired the Bees in front from close range but Diogo Jota levelled for the visitors just four minutes later.
Early into the second half the Reds put themselves in front through Salah as he scored his 100th Premier League goal for Liverpool.
But Vitaly Janelt fired the home side level once more before a thunderous Curtis Jones strike then made it 3-2 courtesy of a deflection from Kristoffer Ajer.
Substitute Yoane Wissa however pulled Brentford level a second time with a cute dink over Alisson to seal a point for the Londoners against Klopp’s title-chasing charges.
Though the nature of Liverpool’s defending for the goals they conceded will come under scrutiny, Klopp felt his side should still have won the match, and would have had they taken more of their goalscoring opportunities.
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Klopp told Sky Sports post-match when asked if he enjoyed the game: “[I’m] not sure enjoy is the right word. It was a wild ride. They deserved their three goals for the way they played.
“We obviously couldn’t deal with the long balls properly today for different reasons. We should have scored more goals, we had incredible chances. Second half I can’t remember any chances of theirs apart from the goals.
“They deserved it. Offensively or with the ball, I don’t think you can control them much better, we created a lot of clear-cut chances. We played offensively really well but couldn’t deal with them defensively.
“These things happen. We should have scored more. If we win 3-2 or 4-3, we still have these struggles defensively. [Ivan] Toney and [Bryan] Mbuemo did really well. Brentford deserved a point.
“Mo alone in front of goal is a brilliant footballer. Mo scores usually in these situations but today not. There’s nothing to say about that.”
Klopp added: “I have no problem with accepting when you play this kind of football. That’s football. You have to create things to deserve to win. They deserved a point as well because they put up a proper fight.
“I respect that a lot. In the end there were situations we should do better – and then it could be a completely different game. Their goalie should have number 10 on his shirt with the balls that he played.
The result means Liverpool are one point clear at the top of the Premier League table but missed a chance to move three clear of rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Reds take on City at Anfield in their next league match next Sunday, with a Champions League group stage clash with Porto coming before then.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson added to Sky Sports of the draw at Brentford: “It was an intense game, we knew it would be. It’s a difficult place to come.
“It was a great atmosphere and they made it difficult for us. To go in the lead twice and not see it out is disappointing for us.
“At 2-1 up we had one or two chances to finish the game off. It gives them that little bit of hope. That’s football sometimes, we’re disappointed with the result but we have to give credit to Brentford.
“We’re an intense team as well but there’s a lot of room for improvement for us today. We controlled it a little bit better in the second half but unfortunately we couldn’t hold on for the win.”
