It was a grim afternoon for anybody of a Reds persuasion, and the media knew the place the fault lay as Liverpool have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Man United.
Jurgen Klopp‘s males have been overwhelmed 4-3 within the quarter-finals on Sunday, crashing out within the dying seconds, in what was one of many worst outcomes of the season.
Liverpool had United there for the taking at 2-1 up late on, just for extra-time to be compelled and the guests to ultimately collapse.
Right here’s how the media reacted to the Reds’ crushing loss.
A loopy recreation was dissected, with loads of criticism coming Liverpool’s manner…
Richard Jolly of the Impartial recommended that it was one recreation too far for Klopp’s males:
“Lastly, in a seven-goal affair of fluctuating fortunes and feelings, seven months into Liverpool’s astonishing season, somebody had discovered a manner of stopping them in a contest.
“United did it the great distance, the arduous manner, the dramatic manner. They mustered a rousing, rattling begin, capped by Scott McTominay’s Tenth-minute opener. They trailed twice however they got here again on every event.
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“And it left Liverpool in an odd place: out of one thing. This was a match that had most of the hallmarks of their triumphs this season, but it introduced defeat.”
On X, James Pearce bemoaned Liverpool’s recreation administration:
“Liverpool solely have themselves accountable for painful FA Cup exit.
“Recreation administration allow them to down badly right now.”
Lewis Steele, of the Mail, thought precisely the identical:
“We’ve praised Liverpool all season for his or her mentality and resilience however that was completely weird recreation administration.
“Don’t suppose they’ll have too many complaints with that.”
This Is Anfield‘s David Lynch was pretty scathing, say the Reds received what they deserved:
“Even essentially the most optimistic of Liverpool followers would battle to color right now’s defeat at Outdated Trafford as something apart from deserved.
“The Reds got here into this recreation 17 factors forward of their bitter rivals within the Premier League desk, and but utterly didn’t underline the gulf between their sides with their efficiency.
“The guests have been outshot (28-25), overwhelmed on anticipated objectives (3.36-2.06) and likewise carved out fewer large probabilities (4-1) in opposition to an opponent that at the moment sits sixth within the league with a objective distinction of zero.
“For that motive, even dropping within the final minute of extra-time hardly felt merciless when Jurgen Klopp‘s aspect had been nowhere close to ok throughout the 120 minutes.”
Jason Burt of the Telegraph assessed the significance of the defeat in Liverpool’s season:
“This was an FA Cup tie for the ages. An FA Cup tie that can dwell lengthy within the reminiscence, that can go down in historical past, that will likely be a part of folklore and, for Manchester United, an FA Cup tie that saved their season and will have saved the job of their supervisor Erik ten Hag.
“Liverpool are out, their quadruple hopes are over, and whereas this trophy is the third of their priorities it’s an exit which can sting given the opposition.”
Jamie Carragher was one other to take to X to echo Liverpool’s function in their very own demise:
Unbelievable recreation & it’s a terrific end result for Man United however Liverpool solely have themselves accountable. Scored three & nonetheless the attacking gamers have been all very poor. Can’t complain an excessive amount of as they’ve been superb all season. Soccer bloody hell!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) March 17, 2024
Lastly, Lynch added that Liverpool’s response is now pivotal to their hopes of glory in Could:
“After all, as soon as a uncommon defeat has been suffered, the one factor that issues is the way you reply, and Klopp has two weeks to work on that facet.
“Shedding within the dying seconds in opposition to your fiercest rival can have a destructive psychological impression should you permit it to, however the different is utilizing it the frustration to gasoline a successful run to the top of the season.
“And will the Reds go along with the latter, then maybe it may even show a blessing in disguise to keep away from the potential of two draining journeys to Wembley.
“Sadly, with the worldwide break about to start out, we should wait till an Anfield conflict with Brighton on March 31 to learn the way Klopp’s aspect will react.”
