Jose Mourinho and Manchester United show Liverpool they will need more to end 26-year title drought
Jurgen Klopp's Kop artists ran out of steam against their dogged rivals to dent Premier League ambitions
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TO be fair to Jose Mourinho, he delivered another immortal line.
“They are not the last wonder in the world, like you try to say they are.”
Let’s face it, a few too many people got caught up in the Liverpool hype before Monday’s visit of Manchester United.
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The Jurgen Klopp Effect had turned them into title contenders, apparently.
They were going to win by three or more, sending their supporters home with dreams of winning the title.
All they had to do was turn up at Anfield. And turn it on. Instead the title charge is on hold.
The Kop artists — Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane — can all paint a pretty picture at times.
This performance will be quietly air-brushed from history.
To win a league title Liverpool will have to find another way.
What happened to the explosive runs, the fresh legs that blew Arsenal away on the opening day?
On Monday, in front of 50,000 fans at Anfield, they ran out of steam. Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly were made to look like world beaters. The old days, when Rio Ferdinand, Steve Bruce or Nemanja Vidic would leave the field bloodied and bruised are over. That lot knew they were in a game.
The new Liverpool, the team taking shape under Klopp, are all about improvisation. High energy, neat little touches, spinning off defenders, and all that business.
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All well and good when you are winning but they need more conviction to end the 26-year wait for the league title.
Nobody could have done a better job on them than Mourinho.
Of containment, frustration, resilience.
He is the Special One at that.
David De Gea, excellent at Anfield last season, rose to the challenge again, making superb saves from Emre Can and Coutinho.
Then there is the mystifying form of Daniel Sturridge. In 59 minutes he did not register a shot, on or off target.
Klopp knows if Liverpool want a meaningful say in the title race, they must beat United at home.
It is psychological as much as anything, with a win convincing players that they have enough to overhaul the clubs ahead of them.
The impressive results — winning at Arsenal and Chelsea, thrashing Leicester, drawing at Tottenham — have been tempered by this one.
It was a big chance for Klopp’s players to make an impression.
Instead, the world has been left wondering once again.