Four games without a win for the first time since 2017. Three games without scoring for the first time since 2005.
The dominance of last season is becoming a distant memory for the defending Premier League champions.
Liverpool's 0-0 draw with leader Manchester United saw Jürgen Klopp's team drop to fourth behind Manchester City, which thrashed Crystal Palace on Sunday, and Leicester.
Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. (Phil NoblePool via AP)
“There is nothing fundamentally different, it is just the result is different," Klopp said. "We have not to worry about it, but we obviously have to ignore the fact and hope it will be good again.
“We did that, but the only possibility we have is to create situations and be ready to fail and do it again. That is a massive difference to when you are flying, because then you deal with the missed chances better."
Targets are being revised, it seems, with a top-four finish the priority.
Manchester City's John Stones, left, celebrates with Phil Foden after scoring his side's third goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday Jan.17, 2021. (Clive BrunskillPool via AP)
“We spoke about the fight for the Champions League, so that’s the most important thing and for that you need points,” Klopp said. "It’s not about, ‘If we don’t become champions, it’s not fun anymore.’ That’s not like it is. We just fight for everything and I saw that tonight again. That’s all I need.”
This is a team — albeit depleted by injuries — that won the title by 18 points in July to end Liverpool's 30-year title drought.
“I know that football fans in general are not the most patient species on the planet — they want to win each football game," Klopp said. “I am not very different to that, but I’m long enough in the business to know that you have to go through more difficult periods as well. And it’s not the most difficult in my life — not even close to it.”
Manchester City's John Stones, centre, scores his side's third goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday Jan.17, 2021. (Peter PowellPool via AP)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has endured many difficulties but has now been in charge of United more than two years and leading the club's first credible title challenge since Alex Ferguson retired with the Premier League trophy in his hands in 2013.
Only Alisson Becker's fine saves from Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba prevented United being the first team to win at Anfield since 2017.
“We were a bit disappointed in the performance, not just the result," Solskjaer said. “We didn’t do well enough to cause them problems in the first half, but we defended well and they didn’t create too many chances.
Tottenham Hotspur's Tanguy Ndombele celebrates scoring their third during the English Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur at the Bramall Lane stadium in Sheffield, England, Sunday, Jan.17, 2021. (Laurence GriffithsPool via AP)
“We know we have players who can win you a game in the blink of a second and Bruno and Paul almost did."
CITY ROUT
There was no shortage of goals for United's crosstown rival, although they can from a rare source: John Stones.
It's taken until halfway through his fifth season at the club to finally score in the league — and he did so twice after finally breaking his duck.
There was nothing unfamiliar about the provider of the defender's first in the 26th minute. Kevin De Bruyne contributed his 100th assist for City with a cross curled to the head of Stones.
After İlkay Gündoğan netted 11 minutes into the second half, Stones was on target again in the 68th after Ruben Dias' header was parried.
There was a stylish conclusion to the rout with Raheem Sterling curling in a free kick in the 88th at the Etihad, which remains closed to fans like all stadiums in England.
GOAL OF SEASON CONTENDER
Tanguy Ndombele audaciously flicked over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale from a tight angle to complete Tottenham’s 3-1 victory at last-place Sheffield United. It gave Jose Mourinho’s fifth-place side a first away success in the Premier League in two months.
Mourinho has previously criticized the contribution of Ndombele, who became the club's record signing in 2019 when he joined for 60 million euros (then $68 million), months before the Portuguese took charge.
“I coach for so many years, had so many players and I have enough experience to say and to feel that when a player is not playing very well, it’s his responsibility," Mourinho said, "and when a player turns things around and brings his performance level to a very high level, it’s also his responsibility.
“It’s a great example that with me the door is always open. The door of the team is always open, and when a player is not playing he has to try to understand why and he has to try to understand how can he walk through that door. He understood."
The second-half goal came just when Tottenham looked set for another shaky finish after David McGoldrick’s header reduced the deficit three minutes earlier following first-half goals from Serge Aurier and Harry Kane for Tottenham.
“The goal is amazing, but I don’t care about the goal,” Mourinho said. "I care about the performance and the performance was magnificent and I’m really pleased that he’s come to this level."
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