LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp accepted he was likely to find little sympathy for the mitigating factors he identified as the cause of dropped points in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Southampton.
James Milner had a second-half penalty saved to check the Reds’ hopes of Champions League qualification but Klopp, who was ridiculed earlier in the season for identifying a strong wind as one of the reasons for defeat to the Saints in the semi-final of the EFL Cup, bemoaned the visitors’ timewasting and a dry Anfield playing surface.
Fraser Forster brilliantly kept out Milner’s spot-kick after exchanging words with his former England team-mate, while Southampton also had Cedric Soares and James Ward-Prowse booked during the delay between Jack Stephens’ handball and the penalty being taken.
Klopp shrugged wearily and smiled ruefully as he discussed the incident at a post-match news conference.
I really don’t like it, even after we only drew, to make a story of it. You saw what they did, why do you need my say on it?” he said.
“I understand how you should handle situations like this. On this side people will say it was very smart because Milly missed afterwards; on the other side people will say that’s not how sportsmanship works.
I don’t know. It is how it is. It took a long time. It’s not nice. At the end, two yellow cards for them.
“With this delay and with the time play of Southampton… I don’t know how long Forster needed altogether for his kicks. Four minutes [added time], I have to say that’s ambitious.
Obviously I have nothing to do with it, I can’t decide. Whatever we say, we always look then like bad losers or whatever.
“You saw it, write it and then, if nobody reads it, obviously it’s no issue.”
The former Borussia Dortmund boss added further knowing disclaimers before his latest assessments of the changeable British weather.
“I know nobody wants to hear it but I’m brave enough to say it – the pitch was really dry,” he explained.
We gave all the water we had but then after 15 minutes, with the wind, it was really dry.
“It was difficult, you could see it. A lot of passes you thought, ‘why are they playing like this’.
In a possession game you need to have the best, if possible, circumstances. We couldn’t have this. It’s nobody’s fault, it’s only a description.”
Liverpool sit third in the Premier League — a point and a place above Manchester City, who have a game in hand as the top-four battle looks set to go down to the wire.
Arsenal’s win over Manchester United earned Klopp’s men a measure of breathing space over the chasing pack as they prepare to visit a West Ham side buoyed by a victory that effectively ended Tottenham’s title hopes on Friday.
They are in a positive season-finishing mood. No pressure anymore,” Klopp added.
“Everybody saw the Tottenham game. Tottenham had the pressure, Tottenham had to make the game. West Ham scored from counter-attack and Tottenham could not come back.”
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Spoofer. Big time spoofer.
@Joseph Devine: Actually, he has done an amazing job with such a useless squad.
“We showed great character” is only around the corner
The beginning of the end
@david lydon: more like the end of an error lol
@Ron Koeman: Liverpool are shte this year yet sit in third. Doesn’t say much about the rest.
@Ron Koeman: “The pitch was really dry”? Maybe they should do what Adam Lala Land does after shaving and apply some Nivea cream to it :-)
@Sloop John G: lol comment of the week John
@Ron Koeman: really ???? As boring as trabolgan
@Sloop John G: but but but but but but i don’t troll Liverpool.
@Sloop John G: it’s also good for butt hurt I hear, ‘the pig ‘could do with some
@Mick Power: it does it says they were more shite. Be honest mick Liverpool will probably just about fall over the line but only cause both Utd and Arsenal couldn’t get their act together this season
@Ron Koeman: I’m totally honest about Liverpool Ron I had to sit through that tripe yesterday. But the position you finish in the league is on merit it doesn’t happen by accident. That said they could still finish 6th.
@Mick Power: That’s impossible United have 6th sown up since August.
@Mick Power: none of them deserve top 4 and that includes city too
@Mick Power: English club were embarrassed this season in the CL and I don’t see it being any different next year with .
“Und….und…und ze corner flag looked at me funny……”
@Fran Heavey: ha ha…..love the German accent Fran!!
And to be fair it was a little windy
@Irishoversea: BOLLIX. The guy’s a fraud.
@Enda McCallion: still man its tough when its windy and dry pitch never helps..
@Irishoversea: If you were the away team then you might have a legitimate gripe about the state of the pitch but when it’s your own pitch…..?? Sack the groundsmen I say :-)
@Sloop John G: they should get Jeff sterling to have a word that seems to do the trick
@Ron Koeman: is he related to Raheem Stelling?
Now now Jurgen i can’t and won’t defend that. The pitch must of been as dry as an Arabs flip flop to play like that. FFS give over now.
Why on earth hasn’t a replay been ordered yet?!
Remember when Klopp, Mourinho and Guardiola were considered the best managers in the world?
@Brian O’Loughlin: don’t think klopp ever was.. think he had record for losing finals that no other manager can match..
First it was the wind , now it’s the Sun and lack of water…. the joke that just keeps on giving… he did strengthen in ja
@Johnny Bravo: in January and that the root of the problem
@Johnny Bravo: The Sun has never been popular on Merseyside
Jaysus
The unexplainable finally explained
Thanks God for that , I thought they just lacked spirit , balls and attitude
It the grass that’s at fault
We thank God for that and look forward to the next excuse
Lets hope Firmino`s goldfish doesn`t die , the players will never recover
The Brendan Rogers school of spoof & bull continues and Klopp is well along the way to a full degree
Good one, Stephen Kenny couldn’t come up with that excuse
The cat ate the ball excuse.
Do do do do do do do do do klippity Klopp
Do do do do do do took a job in a novelty shop Do do do do do do what’ll he be remembered for during his reign do do do do do do blaming his losses on the wind and the rain do do do do do do do do do
@Euphegenia: Mourinho ohhh Mourinho ohhh….
He is a pig and a bore and always plays for a draw.. Mourinho ohhh Mourinho ohhh….
@The Pig: naaa that was shit and doesn’t rhyme …. try harder
@Euphegenia: it’s class and your hurting.
@The Pig: it’s you’re hurting or you are hurting
Ah jesus christ your makin a show of us with these pathetuc excuses , we were brutal we created fuk all. If we dont win the next two games and miss out on champions league id be happy to see klopp go. No improvement since rodgers
https://youtu.be/58wOW0OsXuM
@Hoof Hearted: BRILLIANT
He’s gonna finish top 4 defo. And he was in 2 finals in his first season. Of course he has improved them.
https://youtu.be/6-uqw5nJSMA
Please shut up Klopp. You F’n dope.