JURGEN KLOPP JOKED that he was more concerned about which Liverpool players weren’t nominated for the Ballon d’Or after seven Reds made the shortlist for this season’s award.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, defenders Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and forwards Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all made the list.
Van Dijk is widely seen as among the favourites to win the award, having been named a finalist for the Best Men’s Player award alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and eventual winner Lionel Messi.
If Van Dijk were to win, he would become the first defender to claim the award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
While Klopp believes his seven players have all earned their spots on the list, he was a little surprised to see Manchester City snubbed at Fifa’s The Best award several weeks ago.
“I heard we had seven nominees and my first question was, ‘who is not nominated?’,” Klopp said.
It is nice. I do not understand much about these kinds of things to be 100% honest — and what it means to the players. I know when you win it is big and if you don’t it does not hurt too much. It is a very good sign and after last season and how we played it is normal that a lot of players have to be nominated if there are football experts.
“To be honest I was surprised when I was at the other (Fifa) awards and no player from Man City was in that team because we all know they play really good football.
“Is this about playing in a specific tournament? Yes, it is important. Our seven players are all deserved.
If it is a sign that we are a destination, I do not know. We will see. It looks like we are comfortable with each other. We want to work together for the next couple of years together or more but we will see what the future brings.”
One of the Liverpool players not nominated for the award, James Milner, believes the nominations say a lot about Liverpool as a unit as they prepare to continue their Champions League title defence against Genk on Wednesday.
“I think it’s well deserved. The lads that are in there, I think it says a lot about the team and the job we are doing as a club and a squad collectively,” he said.
“There are probably a couple more who weren’t in there who could have been so that says a lot about the team and getting to back to back Champions League finals helps as well.
We play as a squad, the team comes first, everyone does their job on both sides of the ball, individual awards are great, they come along but you have to be doing the business as a team and winning trophies as a team.
“You can see that is the mentality of the squad, the team always comes first. If there are individual awards to be picked up along the way that’s great and its recognition for the job that you’re doing but every single player would sacrifice individual awards for the team trophies.”
He has a point regarding pin placements but as it was the same for both teams there is a hint of sour grapes about it.
@Ronan Doyle: exactly , sour grapes. Same for everyone Im afraid. Suck it up Justin.
Difference is, when your going for a win you have to play differently and be more aggressive compared to defending a lead.
We clearly need a Brexit for our Ryder cup team. Doing fine with the rest of the nationalities.
@Johnnathan Biskalero: That course was set up like a pay for play, keep them moving, can’t lose a ball, hit it anywhere you want, hen run. That’s the PGA of America business and having lost on proper Professional tournament courses they had to make it easy and hope for the best.
Can’t wait to see how they handle the Golf national de Paris, a proper Course that’ll be set up for a professional tournament.
That’s what I love about the Ryder cup. The captains lay out their own course. McGinley done the best job ever of this. Narrow fairways, thick rough, lots of run-offs the greens. US just did the same this time. Huge fairways for their big hitters to let loose on. Also why Rory done so well also.
Unfortunately Darren let personal friendships get in the way cold calculated decisions on his picks,I wouldn’t have Lee Westwood in my Sun fourball.
Did well James, that’s why Rory did well.
@David Hanlon: how Knox never made the team is a joke…….world ranked 47 gets picked ahead of him & he’s at 19…..make no sense…
Rose is right. When you’re well up going into the final days singles and it’s set up with easy pins it leaves very few opportunities to force mistakes from the leading team. I thought they were easy pins.
They were easy pins but stupid of Rose to complain. It’s just one of several advantages the home team gets and which Europe will have in 2018.
I wondered how Sergio hit a 63 in the singles and only secured a half against big Phil! Two golfing gladiators all the same, providing great entertainment.
However, it’s the host’s prerogative as to pin positions on any Ryder Cup day. All part of the strategy to outfox the opponent, which the yanks did with aplomb.
Rose isn’t a sour grapes kinda guy; just telling it honestly as he saw it.
A USA win is good for the bi annual contest, given our treble success to 2014, and with their team members’ superior world rankings, US ran to form on this occasion.
Roll on Paris 18…
Justin..just bring your putter next time buddy and things will be fine!!
Too many Englishmen in the team. All 6 were defeated last night. Maybe the qualifying criteria needs to be looked at
According to world rankings Europe had 4 players better then 4 others. Alex noren Shane Lowry Russell Knox and Casey are all better ranked then Fitzpatrick Sullivan Westwood and kaymer
@Barry Newell: no issue with Fitzpatrick & Sullivan getting in but Westwood & Kaymer are not playing well enough at the moment…
If the pins were easy why did he not get more birdies ? Get over it Justin you lost fair and square.
Is it not the PGAs right as hosts to do as they see fit to help the US team? Also if the pins were easier then why didn’t Europe make more birdies. Needs to pipe down and except the loss. The US played well & majority of the Europe team didn’t turn (Westwood leading that pack).
Roll on France in 2 years. Bring back McGinley.
The English putted like a pro am
Paul McGinley openly admitted that he got gleneagles set up exactly like a European tour event in 2014 to suit his team. Oak hill was set up us open style in 1995 and the belfry once cut down their rough so that seve Ballesteros could play in the early 90s. Nothing new and complaining about it is sour grapes. Truth is you can’t lose a session 4-0 or carry passengers like Westwood if you expect to win.
Not sure of the logic here, if it was so easy why did he miss so many putts.
What a cry baby…let’s face it Europe were absolutely crap on the first day and that’s what caught them out. Likes it’s the pins fault the European players couldn’t play the game as well as the Americans.
He’s basically saying he can’t putt