Klopp hits out at Mourinho's tactics after Liverpool and Manchester draw

Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure after claiming Manchester United’s long-ball tactics cost Liverpool three points in their Premier League blockbuster at Old Trafford.

Unlike October’s drab, goalless draw at Anfield, this meeting of the bitter rivals lived up to the billing with Liverpool appearing set to give the hosts a bloody nose as James Milner fired home a first-half penalty after Paul Pogba handled a corner in the box.

However, the world’s most expensive player’s blushes were saved by fellow big-name summer acquisition Zlatan Ibrahimovic heading home six minutes from time to secure a 1-1 draw.

Klopp was frustrated at conceding the late equaliser, which the Liverpool boss believes was borne out of United’s direct style that ended up with the ball spending “25 minutes in the air”.

“We needed to be brave, we created the spaces we wanted, we scored the goal,” Klopp told BBC Sport.

“In the end period of the game when United started playing long balls – (to) Marouane Fellaini and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – after 80 minutes (of) high intense football, it is really hard.

“I hoped we would have a bit of luck, unfortunately not, but all good.

“Tomorrow I can enjoy the result, but tonight only the performance.

“It is so intense. They play long balls, it was a wild game. There was a lot of action in the last few minutes.

“We were here to win the game, which is why we are not 100 per cent satisfied.”

Klopp was proud of his players’ display given Liverpool were without a number of key men against a United team on a nine-match winning run in all competitions.

The German has now lost just one of his seven meetings with Mourinho, who he clashed with towards the end of the match after an incident involving Roberto Firmino and Ander Herrera.

Liverpool’s manager was unwilling to speak about a potential offside in the build-up to United’s equaliser or a Wayne Rooney challenge on goalscorer Milner, while Mourinho was coy on the spot-kick conceded by Pogba.

The United manager had few arguments about referee Michael Oliver’s overall display, but used the penalty as a chance to make a point of his own.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know, I didn’t watch. But the referee was very close, so probably it is a penalty.

“The problem with the penalties are they are just a criteria – sometimes you give, sometimes you don’t … in 25 matches, we had one penalty – it is something for the Guinness (World Records) – but today was in our box and I didn’t watch.

“But I have to believe that was a penalty and I am happy for the referee if it was a penalty because his record for us this season is three matches, three penalties against.”

Mourinho clammed up when asked if he was claiming bias against his side – “no, no, you use that word, I don’t,” he said – but his frustration at failing to win was clear.