Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool’s defending for Bournemouth’s equalising goal on Wednesday night made him “nearly vomit,” while revealing Philippe Coutinho came off in the 2-2 draw because he was ill.
Liverpool were denied the three points at Anfield by Joshua King’s equaliser three minutes from time at Anfield after the Reds failed to clear their lines from a long throw.
Benik Afobe had put the visitors in the lead with seven minutes on the clock, but goals from Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi either side of half-time meant the Reds were 2-1 up in the closing stages.
Klopp revealed Coutinho had to be withdrawn midway through the second half because he felt ill, having vomited at the interval.
The Brazilian was replaced by Joel Matip in the 68th minute and headed straight down the tunnel following his substitution.
“We had to change Phil because he felt sick,” Klopp told a news conference after the game.
“At half-time he vomits and then said he feels better now. That’s good.
“But it was clear when he gives the sign that we have to change. That is no joy when you have to take off the best player on the pitch because he played really well.
“The decision was to then organise a little bit differently with the three at the back, plus the two in front, with Lucas and Emre [Can] to give the full-backs the opportunity to use the space on the wing against a 4-4-2 system.”
On King’s leveller and Liverpool’s set-piece defending woes, Klopp added:
“We left it open and the second ball after a set piece. That made me actually nearly vomit. That’s, of course, not nice, but we have to take it.
“It’s my responsibility — all of this — and I have to be more clear in this situation, but I will find a solution for this.”
The Liverpool manager lamented his team’s slow start to the match and feels they need to learn how to close games out in the future.
However, despite the immediate pain of the defeat, Klopp insists the blow will stand his players in good stead for the future.
“When you start like this then it makes the game not easier, it makes it more difficult,” he said. “We have to learn a lot. We had a few passes which we should not play.
“Chelsea, for example — the opponent would not have the ball three times in the last 20 minutes, I think.
“Yes, we don’t have this experience — that’s right. Probably you need things like tonight to get more experience in this, although it feels not too good.
“But on the other hand, we probably have scored the most goals in the Premier League so far, so it’s part of the game that we try to create moments all the time.
“We have to get more experienced in this, for sure.”
