The last thing that Jürgen Klopp did before he left the Stadium of Light was to apologise for his own mood, and it was bleak indeed at times from a manager whose side are unbeaten in their last six games and finish their hectic Christmas schedule in second place.

The Liverpool manager knows that on Wednesday night Chelsea can open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League if they beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane and although his team have taken 13 points from their last 15, he will fear that is not enough.

For that reason, one assumes, there were sighs aplenty and arguments picked as he reflected on a victory that became a draw when Jermain Defoe converted his second penalty of the afternoon.

Klopp did not disagree with referee Anthony Taylor’s award of either of the spot kicks that Defoe dispatched, he just felt that in the general course of things one rarely gets all the penalties one deserves, let alone two in one game.

There was also some quibbling over the free-kick that led to the second penalty – and a general reluctance to accept that sometimes these things happen.