It may be another game that Liverpool relinquished a lead as they continue their underwhelming end to the season but Jurgen Klopp only sees the positives for this team.
In his penultimate fixture as Liverpool manager, the Reds had a 3-1 lead heading into the last 10 minutes against top four aspirants Aston Villa but conceded two goals in three minutes as the home team secured a vital point in their quest for Champions League qualification.
It was an ending rather symbolic of what we have seen from this Liverpool team for the past six weeks or so. A lack of composure at vital moments and gifting opportunities to the opposition which they have not wasted.
There was nothing of seismic significance for Liverpool other than wanting to give their departing manager a victory on his final away fixture in the Premier League. A top three finish had been sealed and they couldn’t move from that position.
In normal circumstances losing a lead so close to the end of the game would have further repercussions but speaking at the end of a frantic fixture, Klopp cut a figure of someone who is at ease with the situation, knowing that he is leaving his successor with players who are on the upward trajectory as the Echo reported.
“I am allowed to see just the good bits of the season. If you carry on then you have to think about what didn't go well and make changes and adjustments of whatever. But that’s obviously not me.
"It’s interesting how Harvey has come through, he is already a while here in his fourth season, he was already among the best players before he got badly injured. He had a good game today.
“Jarell, yes, Conor, yes. James McConnell, Bobby Clark, Kaide Gordon, long long injured, back now, really good, Stefan Bajcetic, the basis is there. And all the other big guns. New influences always help, that’s how it is.
“We did what we could. If we could have done better, we probably would have. We are where we are and that’s it.”
To Liverpool fans in general, the late season drop-off has been deflating and in some ways inexcusable as hopes for a fitting trophy-laden ending for the man who has meant so much to so many has gone up in smoke.
But inside the inner sanctum, Klopp paints a different picture, one of pride and quiet optimism, something that we have grown to respect so much about the German.
He is not just a manager of footballers, he is a guardian type figure that will protect his squad at all costs and emphasise their qualities to the outside world making them walk ten feet taller in the process.
It is an attribute that you simply cannot replicate and one that the players themselves will miss greatly.
“You can make of it what you want and say it is the story of the season, I don’t see it like that. For me the story of the season is the boys showed have a really, really good character and a sensational attitude.
“That’s why were are here today and why we have 79 points, a lot. I know nobody wants to hear that, but being this season the third best team in the league, from where we are coming from, is a statement as well as improvement with a lot of changes.
“ I like it, I’m not over the moon about it, but since a week or two we have to accept we cannot be the best or the second best team in the league. That’s a good basis for the future and that’s all you can ask for."
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