Jurgen Klopp hits back at Didi Hamann over sack talk as Liverpool boss can’t resist new pop at Arsenal defeat
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has taken umbrage with Dietmar Hamann after the former Anfield favourite raised the possibility of the Reds boss being a man under pressure and potentially facing the sack.
The German coach recently clocked up seven years in the Anfield hotseat, making him their longest-serving manager since Bob Paisley. And it’s fair to say Klopp’s reign has been an enormous success. The club came close to winning an unprecedented quadruple last season; ultimately settling for two trophies.
And while they missed out on the two biggest prizes, the fact Klopp has now led the club to three Champions League finals in five seasons tells you just how successful he has been.
However, it’s been a very different story this season. Liverpool are way off the pace in the Premier League title race, having won just twice all season. That resulted in Klopp declaring after Sunday’s controversial defeat at Arsenal that his side were already out of the title race.
Truth be told, it’s been a difficult season all round. A mauling in their opening Champions League game at Napoli also called into question whether their cycle of success is coming to an end.
While they have got back on track with two successive wins in the competition, it is their form in the Premier League causing most concern.
And with just 10 points on the board from their first eight games, it is their worst start to a season in a decade.
Indeed, some have even suggested Klopp might soon be a man under pressure with early rumblings of sack talk starting to swirl. The pundit, speaking about how tired and flat the Reds have looked this season, reckons it their form is to continue then “at some stage we will need a discussion about the manager”.
Jurgen Klopp hits out at sack talk
The comments Hamann made were put to Klopp in Tuesday night’s press conference to preview the Rangers game.
And the German is far from happy at his compatriot for the comments, with Klopp also hitting back at a reporter for highlighting the criticism.
“I think that Didi Hamann doesn’t deserve this to use a question. Do me a favour, ask me your own question…
“We have to keep fighting. People don’t want to hear this but we have to.”
Liverpool will welcome Andy Robertson back into the squad on Wednesday, though Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain again miss out.
“Robbo is in the squad for tomorrow. Curtis, Naby, Ox not. It’s good Robbo is back but not that he’ll be in the team.”
Luis Diaz will also be sidelined for around eight weeks with a knee problem sustained at Emirates Stadium.
And the Reds boss feels his side have been unlucky with injuries already this season.
“I thought we were hopefully a little bit lucky with Trent because ankle didn’t look good.
“Lucho (Diaz), it’s six to eight or whatever. He looks a quick healer but we have to be careful. Could have been worse.
“Joel felt a little bit and scan and is out as well.”
Klopp, however, is determined to get a reaction from his players against Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday.
“I have to remind the team it will be different this week to last, because they are human beings,” he said.
“In Champions League always this middle game, and we’ve had the situation where the away game is more difficult to the home game.”
Klopp can’t resist another pop after Arsenal defeat
Klopp was unhappy with some of refereeing decisions made agains his side at Arsenal. And while Klopp is keen to stress that the match is now gone, he remains unhappy at some of Michael Oliver’s decisions.
“The first goal from Arsenal I’m told was pretty sure offside but they didn’t have the pictures,” Klopp said, via the Liverpool Echo.
“We 100% conceded silly goal especially the second one, but between first and second we played a really good game against the team in form in the league.
“It’s difficult to judge that game (Arsenal). We didn’t play our absolute best football, but we played against the team first in the table away, and we lost it in the way we lost it so it’s difficult to judge.
“Right ref decision would be helpful 100%. Now we lost the game.”
In reference to Arsenal’s penalty winner, he concluded: “You watch a game back and I am pretty sure it wasn’t a pen, but it’s not to discuss it and open it up again, it’s just a fact.
“I know already we have three big injuries, how I can feel not down in that moment?
“Then we get info…not too long out (then the mood improves).”
READ MORE
