Klopp writes off title hopes after Arsenal defeat… with Liverpool boss fuming over ‘soft penalty’

Jurgen Klopp bemoaned refereeing decisions, accused Gabriel Jesus of diving, and confirmed Liverpool face a double injury blow following a defeat by Arsenal that prompted the Liverpool boss to concede ‘We’re not in the (title) race.’

Bukayo Saka’s penalty took Mikel Arteta’s side back to the top of the Premier League. They are now 14 points ahead of Liverpool in 10th after a pulsating battle that saw both Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold suffer nasty injuries. ‘It doesn’t look good for both. That is the icing on the cake,’ Klopp said.

Diaz left the Emirates on crutches, wearing a knee brace, after tangling with Thomas Partey, while Gabriel Martinelli inadvertently stood on Alexander-Arnold’s ankle.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp talks to referee Michael Oliver after Sunday’s defeat

That compounded a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool. Gabriel also escaped a possible handball inside the area before referee Michael Oliver awarded Arsenal a spot-kick after deciding Thiago had fouled Jesus.

‘He thought immediately it’s a penalty which is interesting but it’s his decision. (VAR) Mr (Darren) England had a look at it and thought it was a penalty as well. So if two refs think the same, it’s the truth we have to live with,’ Klopp said.

‘If there was contact – and I’m not sure there was – it might have been soft contact. But the player was on both feet and then down. That’s an indication that something might have been made up.’

Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara was judged to have foul Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus

In the latter stages of a fractious evening, the referee spoke to both benches after what appeared to be heated exchange of words involving players of both sides.

Liverpool felt they deserved their own penalty when Diogo Jota hooked the ball on to Gabriel’s hand.

‘Our situation is now obviously a really difficult one. But it’s already difficult enough with injuries now on top of that but if in a game like this these decisions go against you, it’s kind of typical but it doesn’t help,’ Klopp added.

‘I think a draw would have been a deserved result.’

Bukayo Saka scored the penalty to give Arsenal the lead and consequently the victory 

Klopp was nevertheless frustrated by his side’s defensive errors: ‘We made decisive mistakes for all three goals,’ he said. ‘When you knock down with your backside what you built with your hands, that is really not helpful and that is what we did today.’

His mood was dampened further by the injuries to Diaz and Alexander-Arnold. On Colombian Diaz, Klopp said: ‘Something with the knee, not good… I have no idea about the extent.’

Alexander-Arnold’s twisted ankle comes just over a month before the World Cup. ‘Bad as well, Klopp added. ‘He was in too much pain and it started swelling immediately.’

Klopp vowed Liverpool would ‘fight’ to turn around their season around but conceded: ‘Do I have deeper concerns? Yes, of course I am not happy. How can I be?’

Gabriel Martinelli slotted home within less than a minute to give the Gunners the ideal start

Defender Virgil van Dijk shared his manager’s frustrations. ‘The game was decided by what was not a penalty from my point of view. I’ve no idea (why it was given),’ he said.

‘It’s tough to take but they are in the best moment of their lives… if you are not winning, in the way we are used to, confidence is creeping away.’

Arteta, meanwhile, refused to discuss a possible Arsenal title charge despite an eighth win in nine league games.

‘I’m not going to be mentioning it,’ he said. ‘We’re happy where we are and let’s try to continue to be there.’

Klopp’s mood was dampened further by the injuries to Luis Diaz and Trent Alexander-Arnold