Liverpool's Klopp frustrated as 'slapstick' loss ends year-long unbeaten Anfield run

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was unhappy with the "slapstick" 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan, which ended their year-long unbeaten home record but accepted it was the one game they could afford to lose.

The Reds carried a two-goal advantage from the San Siro into the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie at Anfield. They ended up needing it after Lautaro Martinez's 61st-minute goal had given the visitors a chance of overturning the deficit.

However, Alexis Sanchez's red card for a second bookable offence less than two minutes later blew a hole in Inter's hopes. Liverpool should have put the result beyond doubt as Mohamed Salah twice hit the post in the second half.

"Pete Krawietz (assistant manager) always says the art of football is to lose the right games," said Klopp after a first home defeat in 29 matches spanning the course of 366 days also ended a 12-match winning run.

"I still hate it, but if there was any game we could have afforded to lose, it was this one because the main target of this competition is to get through.

"It's not that I am here over the moon, I'm really happy we went through because when we saw the draw, it was 'OK, that's a tough one', but we went through over two legs, and I think we deserved it.

"It's a big 'if' but if we had used our chances from set-pieces and other situations – it was a bit slapstick how we missed the chances – in the end, we could still have won the game.

"But the only thing I'm interested in is it is fair we are through."

There was some debate over whether Sanchez should have received a second yellow card, having won the ball but caught Fabinho with his follow-through, but Klopp was in no doubt.

"I don't understand why we have to discuss that," he added.

"If you can win the