Jurgen Klopp 'will not cry like a five-year-old' if Liverpool fail to buy January transfer targets

Ahead of FA Cup fourth-round tie at Manchester United, Reds manager is finding that financial constraints caused by Covid-19 are taking their toll

• 

  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 5: The Brazilian produced a good performance until he gave away the penalty. A sign of how desperate things are for Liverpool was the sight of the goalkeeper in the Burnley area in stoppage time. AFP

• 

  Trent Alexander-Arnold - 3: A very poor night for the 22-year-old. He had little impact going forward and struggled defensively, seemingly unaware of developing danger. McNeil waltzed past him on one occasion. AFP

• 

  Joel Matip - 6: A welcome return and an encouraging display for the injury-ridden centre back. The defence is more secure for the 29-year-old’s presence. Good in the air and on the ground. AP

• 

  Fabinho - 5: Failed to deal with Barnes, allowing the striker to break free to earn the decisive penalty. The Brazilian was not as composed as usual and picked up a silly yellow card for an incident that sparked a half-time melee. PA

• 

  Andrew Robertson - 5: The Scot tested Pope at the near post with a stinging shot and was eager to get forward. However, too many of his crosses were aimless and easy to deal with for the defence. A{

• 

  Georginio Wijnaldum - 5: A driving run forward was the highlight of the Dutchman’s night and he worked hard throughout the game. He was the only starting midfielder comfortable in his role. PA

• 

  Thiago Alcantara - 4: The 29-year-old has not yet found his niche in England. Some of his passing is exquisite but he misplaced a few balls and struggled with the pace of the game. Tactics may have to change significantly to get the best out of the playmaker. Reuters

• 

  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 3: The 27-year-old found it hard to impose himself on the action. He had one shot and offered too little to a side struggling to create effective chances. Withdrawn for Firmino before the hour mark. AFP

• 

  Xherdan Shaqiri - 5: The Swiss is always eager to inject some creative spark but he lacked the subtlety to break down the massed defence. His shots from distance did not trouble the goalkeeper. AFP

• 

  Sadio Mane - 5: The Senegalese was crowded out whenever in possession and was unable to generate much in the way of chances. Defenders made sure he was denied room. Reuters

• 

  Divock Origi - 3: Spurned a splendid opportunity just before half-time when he hit the bar when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Belgian is not clinical, takes too many touches and slows the attack down. EPA

• 

  SUBS: Mohamed Salah - (On for Origi 57') 5: The attack looked sharper after he came on. Quickly forced Pope into a good save but could not carve out another scoring opportunity and ended the game frustrated. AP

• 

  Roberto Firmino - (On for Oxlade-Chamberlain 57') 4: Scuffed a chance in the area and still looks out of form. Flicked a late opportunity goalward but could not find a way through the crowd. PA

• 

  Takumi Minamino - (On for haqiri 84') 4: The Japanese's main contribution was getting in Salah’s way when the Egyptian was running on to the ball. Did not offer much but was not to blame. Getty

• 

  BURNLEY RATINGS: Nick Pope - 8: Dealt with long-range shots capably and picked off crosses with ease. The goalkeeper made excellent second-half saves from Alexander-Arnold and Salah and rarely looked rattled. Getty

• 

  Matthew Lowton - 6: The 31-year-old showed his experience and refused to be drawn out of position. He did not raid forward but concentrated on defensive duties. Getty

• 

  James Tarkowski - 7: Numerous attacks stalled when the ball came near to the 28-year-old. The defender repeatedly cleared the lines and tackled with crisp efficiency. AP

• 

  Ben Mee - 8: Made an awful mistake to allow Origi a chance before half time but got away with it so it did not undermine a towering performance. Anchored the defence and blocked wave after wave of attacks. Reuters

• 

  Charlie Taylor - 7: Produced a brilliant sliding challenge to block an Alexander-Arnold shot and was solid until suffering an injury early in the second half. Limped off at start of second half. PA

• 

  Robbie Brady - 6: Deployed on the right rather than his preferred flank, the Irishman was dogged in the rearguard action. Did not get forward as much as he might have liked but was effective. AP

• 

  Ashely Westwood - 6: Thrived in the midfield battle. The 30-year-old broke up attacks before they could develop and rarely wasted the ball when in possession. PA

• 

  Josh Brownhill - 6: Pressed the opposition hard in midfield. The 25-year-old was tenacious and disciplined. He always looked to set up a break, too. AFP

• 

  Dwight McNeil - 7: The 21-year-old put in a shift helping the defence but showed real threat when ranging forward. He hit the byline twice and caused panic for Liverpool and discomfort for Alexander-Arnold. AFP

• 

  Chris Wood - 6: The New Zealander is never going to terrify defences with a goalscoring threat but he acts as an outlet ball for a team under pressure. His robust physical approach means he is a handful to mark. AP

• 

  Ashley Barnes – 8: The journeyman striker knows all the tricks of the trade and is an expert in niggle. He provoked Fabinho into a booking and won and scored the penalty. A clever, irritating player who was impressive. He dispatched the penalty with cool ease. AP

• 

  SUBS: Erik Pieters – (On for Taylor 49') 7: Replaced the injured Taylor and was strong against Salah. The ideal reinforcement for a team under growing pressure. PA

• 

  Johann Berg Gudmundsson - (On for Brady 65') 6: The Icelander shot wide shortly after coming on and worked tirelessly at both ends for the rest of the game. Getty

Jurgen Klopp vowed not to "cry like a five-year-old" if Liverpool fail to deliver the players he wants in the January transfer window.

The German's injury-hit side have dropped to fourth in the Premier League after five games without a win and 440 minutes of top-flight action without a goal.

The champions sit six points behind leaders Manchester United – who they drew 0-0 with last weekend and face again in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday – and lost at Anfield in the league for the first time since 2017 when Burnley won 1-0 on Thursday.

At the heart of the Merseysiders' current slump is a series of injuries to defenders Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip – with the former pair long-term absentees.

Liverpool have been destabilised as a result, but Klopp has been unable to convince his employers to bring in a replacement so far during the transfer window.

Klopp said senior figures within the club who control the finances have the final say as the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic take their toll.

"I am not a five-year-old kid any more and if I don't get what I want I start crying," Klopp said ahead of the game against their arch-rivals at Old Trafford. "Most of the time in my life I didn't get what I want. We are all probably pretty much used to that.

"I am responsible for a big part of this club but there are people responsible for the whole thing and I cannot make their decisions. I know they are with us and they want to support us and they do.

"A centre-half would help 100 per cent. Would we score more goals with a centre-half? I am not sure. Would it give us more stability in specific moments? Probably yes.

"It is not about what it would be like with someone else and never ever we spoke in the transfer window like this because it would be an excuse and we don't need that."

____________________________________________________________________

Liverpool 0 United 0: player ratings

• 

  LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 8. The Brazilian made a great save from Fernandes with his foot and a fantastic stop from Pogba in the last 10 minutes to preserve the point. Reuters

• 

  Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5. The 22-year-old was uncertain at the back and inconsistent with his crosses. Part of Liverpool’s attacking problem is that the right back has hit a dip in form. Reuters

• 

  Fabinho - 8. Another composed performance by the Brazilian. He produced a brilliant sliding block to stop a Fernandes opportunity and snuffed out a Rashford counter-attack late on. Reuters

• 

  Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain was not tested in this unfamiliar position of centre half. He was strong in the air and used the ball well but playing him at the back is not the solution for Liverpool's defensive problems. Reuters

• 

  Andrew Robertson - 6. The Scot got into good positions but his touch was off and too many of his passes found a United shirt rather than a teammate. Defended well against Rashford. EPA

• 

  Thiago Alcantara - 6. The 29-year-old's passing is seductive but he needs to hurt the opposition more. He is still adjusting to the pace of the English game. Forced a save from De Gea in the closing stages with a shot from the edge of the box. Reuters

• 

  Georginio Wijnaldum - 5. The Dutchman worked manfully in a restructured midfield. He impressed during his side’s spell on top in the first-half but tired late. Replaced by Milner with a minute to go. EPA

• 

  Xherdan Shaqiri - 6. Faded after a bright start when he buzzed around the United box generating chances. The Swiss was taken off for Jones with 14 minutes left. Reuters

• 

  Sadio Mane - 6. As so often recently, the Senegalese was the most dynamic of Liverpool’s attackers. The inability to convert that threat into goals against packed defences is becoming a worry, though. EPA

• 

  Mohamed Salah - 5. A frustrating effort for the Egyptian. He switched flanks in an attempt to exert more influence but had little impact on either side of the pitch. Reuters

• 

  Roberto Firmino - 4. A lacklustre display. The front three have been sputtering largely because the Brazilian has struggled for consistency and has been unable to create space and opportunities for his colleagues. Wasted one good chance. AFP

• 

  SUBS: Curtis Jones - 5. Replaced Shaqiri in the 75th minute and tried to spark the attack. Brought plenty of energy but not much danger. EPA

• 

  Divock Origi - 5. Given the last five minutes when Firmino was substituted. The Belgian was eager and managed to force a corner but never looked like breaking the deadlock (no match photo available). Reuters

• 

  James Milner - 5. Brought on for Wijnaldum in the 89th minute and was solid enough. A cautious substitution from Jurgen Klopp as time ran out (no match photo available). Reuters

• 

  MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: David De Gea - 7. Little to do despite strong Liverpool pressure in the first 30 minutes as they flew at United having had no games since United played their last two. Reuters

• 

  Aaron Wan Bissaka – 7. Nervous watching him against Mane but handled him well in a dogged opening half hour. Like his team, he brightened up in the second half. Set up Pogba seven minutes from time. Survived the Liverpool threat for consecutive clean sheets in away games. EPA

• 

  Victor Lindelof – 7. Selection a slight surprise given his injuries and Eric Bailly’s form. Steady and his defence kept a clean sheet – in no part down to superb late defending snuffing Liverpool out. Justified his selection. AFP

• 

  Harry Maguire – 7. Under pressure and blocked a Firmino shot but shaky giving ball away. Good game against three of the best forwards in the world. Reuters

• 

  Luke Shaw – 8. Involved in first half counters down the left. Solid, though lost ball which led to Salah run on goal. Attacked and assisted and full of energy for 90 minutes. More touches than any other United player. Man of the match. AFP

• 

  Paul Pogba – 7. Unusually, started playing off the right and immediately involved in attack and cutting out Liverpool attacks, but gave ball away – partly because he tries the spectacular and it doesn’t always come off. His shot after 83rd minute was one of the best two chances in the game and superbly saved by Allison. He set himself up with a fine first touch but volleyed at goalkeeper. EPA

• 

  Scott McTominay - 7. Robust early challenge on Thiago that Bryan Robson or Norman Whiteside would’ve been proud of. Improved as game went on and strong on clearances and will be satisfied with the result against a side who’d won 36 of their previous 38 home league games. Reuters

• 

  Fred - 7. Outsmarted by Thiago early and wasteful in possession but always busy and pressing against the champions. Passed ball nicely forward in a second half move and sensed dangers well. Reuters

• 

  Bruno Fernandes - 5. Transformed United since signing a year ago but poor in this huge game. Lost his man and limited impact. United’s best first half effort with a free kick but very poor and United’s first shot on target after 64. Side-footed a chance after a fast United attacked but well saved by Allison. EPA

• 

  Anthony Martial - 6. Played on left which constrained him, even though he looked dangerous when he has the ball. Played an hour. Needs to get to the levels he was at last season for him to be an asset who could help United win the league. AFP

• 

  Marcus Rashford - 6. Playing centre forward. Lots of running but offside four times in a first half where United didn’t have a single shot on target. His runs excite but led to little and his manager pointed them out as an area his players could’ve improved. There was one run where Cavani was to his left in space. Booked. EPA

• 

  SUBS: Edinson Cavani - 6. On for Martial 60. Worked hard, smart touches in a better second half for United. Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten home run stays intact, as does United’s unbeaten away run stretching nearly a year. AFP

• 

  Mason Greenwood - N/A On for Fernandes after 89. The Portuguese didn’t kook happy about it, but he could have no complaints after his performance. Reuters

____________________________________________________________________

Klopp also admitted that he needs to change the way he is communicating with his players as they look to put an end to their recent struggles.

"When you don't like a situation you have to change the right things, not everything, and that is what we try to do," he said.

"I like to see that in each bad situation there is a chance for something and I see it that way, but I will speak to my players.

"We want to change the situation, as you can imagine, and that is what we do now.

"Directly after the [Burnley] game I said exactly what I thought. I said that when things don't work out on the pitch as we want them to then there is an issue and the issue is the things I tell the boys.

"I didn't tell them clear enough so I have to change the way I tell the boys and then we have to change the way we play.

"We have to work on the details. We have to play football, we have to create, defend, score, 100 per cent we know that, and that's what we try to do again on Sunday."