‘We weren’t fresh enough mentally and physically’ – Klopp admits Liverpool are worn down after home loss to Brighton

After going 68 games without losing at home, the Reds have now lost consecutive matches at Anfield

Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp admitted that his side are mentally and physically fatigued after a disappointing 1-0 home loss to Brighton on Wednesday.

Steven Alzate scored in the 56th minute for the Seagulls in what would prove to be the game’s only goal at Anfield. 

Liverpool’s 68-match unbeaten streak at Anfield came to an end with a loss to Burnley on January 21, and the Reds are now on a two-game home losing streak after falling to Brighton. 

Generating attack at home has been a major issue of late, as Liverpool have failed to score in three consecutive home league games for the first time since October 1984. 

With the Reds’ goalless run at Anfield currently at 348 minutes, Klopp said his side are lacking mental and physical sharpness at present.

“Tonight we looked really like we weren’t fresh enough mentally and physically,” Klopp told BBC Radio 5.

“A lot of moments where we gave the ball away too easily, in moments the boys looked tired mentally. I know they can pass the ball from A to B but it didn’t happen, we made it easy for Brighton but they also did really well.

“Brighton deserved to win, no doubt about it. For me it’s more important to find an explanation for why we lost this game and understand what happened here tonight. We didn’t look convincing.”

The Reds have now slipped to seven points behind first-place Manchester City, who also have a game in hand. Ahead of his side’s meeting with high-flying City on Sunday, Klopp knows his team desperately need to find solutions.

“You saw what went wrong, it’s more about why,” Klopp added to BT Sport. “The only explanation now is that we are a fatigued team, mentally, more or less. That leads to not the maximum freshness in your legs. Brighton deserved to win, they played well, they did well.

“The only thing we can do is use the things that happen and learn from them. The solution is always the players. It has been a tough week and tonight it was not enough. City are flying and we have to find solutions.”

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