Jurgen Klopp ’s anger in the dressing room was behind Liverpool’s fast start in the second half against Manchester City, according to Roy Keane.
Liverpool went into the break 2-1 down at the Etihad Stadium after goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus had given City the edge, despite Diogo Jota’s earlier equaliser. Remarkably, it was the first time that Klopp’s side had been behind at half-time in 31 Premier League games this season.
City had created much the better chances in the first 45 minutes and could have been further ahead. Yet the away side managed to turn things around almost immediately when the second half kicked off.
Liverpool put together a fluent move down the right hand side, with Mohamed Salah sliding through a perfect pass for Sadio Mane to curl a first-time shot past Ederson to make it 2-2. City continued to press and fashioned a fantastic chance to win it in injury-time, but Riyad Mahrez chipped over the bar to leave the title race finely balanced, with Pep Guardiola’s team a point ahead with seven games left to play.
"Liverpool struggled to get going but in the second half they showed their character,” Keane said on Sky Sports. “Klopp had a go at them at half-time and they were early out onto the pitch for the start of the season period. He wanted them to show their true colours and we saw that, before City again [had] some great chances. It was a great reminder of what the game is all about and why we love it. Credit to all the players."
Some had expected a cagey match between the league’s two best sides, but that is not what materialised. City took the lead just five minutes in through De Bruyne’s deflected effort before Jota equalised from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cut-back. Jesus made it 2-1 with a cushioned shot from Joao Cancelo’s cross before Mane’s cool finish in the 47th minute.
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"We saw today the different qualities,” Keane continued. “City [were] outstanding [in the] first half and Liverpool showed their quality [in the] second half. All the talk was it would not be decided today but they played like it was going to be. It was like a final. I think a draw was a fair result.
"What impressed me about these quality players was the desire was still there to go and win the game right until the end. No team was ever going to dominate for long spells because there's so much quality on both sides.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes a draw was a good result for Klopp, despite them remaining a point behind the defending champions.
“I think he will [be satisfied]. Obviously he would’ve wanted the three points but, second half, showed getting back into the game, he’ll be delighted with a point,” Carragher said. “Liverpool were just not at the races in that first half but credit to City, I thought they were outstanding. What Liverpool did second half to get a point from the game huge point.”
