Klopp not concerned by dropped points

Payet made it 1-1 for West Ham in the 27th minute after converting a brilliant free-kick.

Jurgen Klopp refused to lay the blame for West Ham’s first goal squarely at Karius’ feet after the keeper had got a hand to Payet’s effort but failed to keep it out.

Michail Antonio had the visitors in front when he capitalised on a mistake from Joel Matip, but Origi scored from close range after Darren Randolph had dropped Sadio Mane’s cross shortly after half-time to claim a point.

Liverpool dominated and pushed for a victor but weren’t clinical enough and lacked options from the bench to change the game.

After Chelsea had beat West Brom earlier in the day, Klopp’s men are now six points behind the Blues at the Premier League’s summit. Despite this, Arsenal will fancy their chances against an Everton team who have not kept a clean sheet since Oct 30.

“We showed compactness and resilience to get a point which is a great achievement for us”.

Arsenal can return to the top of the table with a win and look a decent shout at 15/8 to be winning at half time and full time at Goodison.

“It’s hard to stay in the race with Chelsea when they win everything and we didn’t, ” Klopp said. In the second half, you are expecting Liverpool to be better but I expected more from us.

“Andy Carroll has just come back from injury, he’s on the bench, so why not start him”, he bemoaned.

“We just need to keep pushing on”.

Origi couldn’t hide the disappointment of the Reds losing further ground at the top, however, but believes there is still a long way to go.

“One change would have made the difference today”, Klopp admitted.

Payet has been off the boil of late but his manager Slaven Bilic thinks that this goal could be a turning point in his season.

“I believe in atmosphere”, said the manager after the game, while in his programme notes before this one, he added: “The supporters know their importance also in staying with the players and keeping them positive for the entire game”.

In fact, Boro haven’t attempted more than four shots on target in any of their 15 Premier League games so far in 2016-17.

Liverpool are obviously missing Coutinho-who wouldn’t?-and his absence has had a knock-on effect on the attack and mostly his compatriot Roberto Firmino. This left Origi free to tap in off the post.

West Ham has been suggested as a possible destination for Sturridge should he continue to struggle to get regular action at Anfield, with the England worldwide having fallen out of favour under Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.