'Exceptional' - Jurgen Klopp praises three Manchester United players after Liverpool FC draw

Jurgen Klopp singled three Manchester United players out for praise following Liverpool’s draw at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Liverpool were by far the better side in the early stages of the match and deservedly led at half-time when Luis Diaz fired in unmarked from a corner. The only criticism of the visitors performance was that they didn’t have more to show for their dominance in part due to some poor finishing and some find defensive work from United.

They were punished emphatically after the restart as Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo both scored stunning strikes, but salvaged a point late on when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty after a reckless foul from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Klopp was happy with the overall performance from his side but praised goalkeeper Andre Onana for his fine saves and the two United goal scorers for their strikes.

“Happy with a lot of parts of the game, being 1-0 up at Old Trafford and having a 15-0 shooting stat is incredible,” he told reporters after the match. “One exceptional save from Dominik Szoboszlai, besides that we should have been calmer in moments but 1-0 up fine. Still controlling the game but the give the ball away, these mistakes happen and will do again, it is not a problem.

“Exceptional finish from Bruno. Mood lift in stadium and we control the game again, got the penalty and scored and could have scored more, we played really good in so many moments, we had 5-10 minute period when they score and after that we were in charge. We should have won the game that’s clear. They had no shots at all. We made mistakes, great goal from Bruno. Another screamer (from Mainoo).

“Now you can say with that much dominance in parts of the game we should win but you are all long enough that that doesn’t mean you will win, but that you should. 2-2, I am not over the moon, I don’t think it is the best result I have ever seen but I am fine and will recover and play Atalanta.”