Jurgen Klopp takes blame for Rhian Brewster’s penalty miss in Liverpool’s shootout defeat by Arsenal

‘If anyone is to blame, it is me. I wanted him in the position because he is a real finisher and confident’

Jurgen Klopp took responsibility for Rhian Brewster’s penalty miss after the Liverpool starlet’s blunder proved decisive in the Community Shield shootout against Arsenal.

Brewster, who has returned to Liverpool’s first team after a loan spell at Swansea, was introduced from the bench in stoppage time, with Klopp claiming to have never seen the 20-year-old miss from the spot previously.

Brewster’s powerfully struck penalty clipped the top of the bar, allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to seal victory for Mikel Arteta’s side at Wembley.

“This will not harm Rhian,” Klopp said afterwards. “If anyone is to blame, it is me. I wanted him in the position because he is a real finisher and confident. Today, not. That happens in life and in football.

“We all have to learn and prove we can deal with defeats. If he would have scored and someone else missed, it is the same theme. There are bigger reasons than that. Missing it like this is possible. I have never seen him miss one but it happens.”

Aubameyang scored a brilliant goal in the first half, with the captain’s new three-year deal at the club set to be announced in the coming days alongside the signing of centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille.

However, for goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was outstanding once again, and man of the match Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the future remains uncertain with strong interest from Aston Villa and Wolves respectively.

“I think Emi has shown in the last few months what he is able to do for this football club,” said Arteta. “I am convinced that he has the level to play for us consistently at that level. He showed that today in a final.”

“[Maitland-Niles] has to be able to convince me every day in training that he can compete at this level,” said Arteta. “Not once every three months but every three days.”

“The way he is playing at the moment is showing me that he can do it. His mentality and the way he is going about every single detail about the preparation of a football game is much better than before.”