Jurgen Klopp revealed that Liverpool players are “furious” after losing the chance to strengthen their leadership in the Premier League leadership.
The Reds had a frustrating 1-1 draw with second-placed West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Sunday.
Sadio Mane gave Liverpool an advantage in the 12th minute, but a poor display after the break allowed the visitors to earn the deserved equalizer through Semi Ajayi, eight minutes from time.
And Klopp explained his team’s reaction, despite being three points clear of the lead.
“It is not the first time in my life that we have not won a game that we should have won,” said the head of the Reds.
“It’s not like we’re all depressed or anything.
“The boys are angrier than anything because they know it wasn’t perfect. We now have the next game in three days (at Newcastle United on Wednesday).
“We don’t live in the land of dreams where we only win games because we want to win them, we have to work for it, play for it and end the situations and pass at the right time. Boys are able to do that.
“West Brom had a new coach and played a first half that I hadn’t seen many times in my life with a 6-4-0. It’s all right.
“We have to be disciplined in a different way. We have to be offensive, active and creative, and defend. We could have done better tonight. “
Despite having 78% of possession, Liverpool managed to land just two shots on target against a well-trained Baggies defense by new boss Sam Allardyce.
And Klopp admits that the Premier League champions are the only ones to blame for losing their first home points of the season.
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Asked if the result looked like a defeat, the Reds boss said: “Yes, it is true, but I know we have one point more than before, so everything is fine.
“The problem I have is that West Brom deserved the point because it is our fault that they deserved it in the second half.
“The first half was a very strange game. I don’t know the statistics, but it looked like we had 90% -10% ownership.
“We were playing ball and it is a great challenge. I know that to stay on the right track, you have to do it, do it and do it again, and we should have done it.
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“On the other hand, it’s a challenge for West Brom to defend themselves like that for 90 minutes, because they didn’t change their game when they lost 1-0.”
Klopp added: “In the first five minutes of the second half, they had more situations than the entire first half and we could have solved that by keeping the passes easy. We do not.
“That’s why it’s our fault that I finished 1-1 and not 1-0 or 2-0. We have to accept that. “