Jurgen Klopp reacts as James Milner and Virgil van Dijk argue in fresh Liverpool setback

Liverpool were cut apart at times by Manchester Untied, who beat the Reds 2-1 at Old Trafford, with James Milner and Virgil van Dijk clashing after one of the goals

Jurgen Klopp saw his side lose at Old Trafford

Jurgen Klopp appeared relaxed after James Milner laid into Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool conceded the opener at Manchester United.

Jadon Sancho set the hosts on their way as they recorded their first win of the season at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford doubled United’s lead in the second half and the Red Devils held on after Mohamed Salah’s late goal gave Liverpool a glimmer of hope.

It was after Sancho’s opener that Liverpool midfielder Milner, who is known as one of the team’s leaders, lamented the Dutch centre-half as the visitors were continuously cut apart. Rashford got in behind initially and a neat one-two saw United again scythe through the visitors’ backline.

James Milner and Virgil van Dijk were involved in heated discussions

Milner – who was left in a heap on the floor as Sancho found the bottom corner – made his feelings known as he and Van Dijk engaged in a heated discussion, in which the Englishman did the majority of the talking. Responding to their exchange, Klopp told Sky Sports : “That’s how it is, when you are in a game like this fighting, these guys talk to each other and on the pitch it is a different conversation”

Liverpool have conceded five times in their opening three games following their defeat in Manchester as they remain winless. Van Dijk was paired with Joe Gomez as Jurgen Klopp deals with the injuries suffered by Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate. The Dutchman was getting close to his best form last term, but the drop-off from the majority of Liverpool’s players so far this season will be a concern.

Sancho’s strike means the Reds have conceded the opening goal in their last seven Premier League games, which dates back to the final four games of last season. Fulham and Crystal Palace notched the opening goal in Liverpool’s other clashes this term.

Left-back Andy Robertson, who hasn’t been part of a back four that’s kept a clean sheet since April, lamented the team’s inability to get going as they fell further off the pace after just three games. He told Sky Sports : “We give every team a goal start which is the base of the game, we can’t give ourselves an uphill battle.

“That is what needs to change, we can’t keep going behind. In the warm up it was the quietest I have heard this stadium and they wanted something to lift them and we gave them it. Two points from nine is not the start we wanted. We need to pick up our performances individually and collectively.

“We can’t keep this going on out there, it is easy to talk about it in the changing room but we have to go out and do it. We can’t keep conceding goals. They started better than us today. It needs to change.”

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