Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Jurgen Klopp sack talk labelled ‘nonsense’ by Jamie Carragher as pundit gives glowing Liverpool verdict on boss

Jamie Carragher at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher thinks rumours that Jurgen Klopp could be sacked by Liverpool are ‘nonsense’, while Roy Keane reckons the win over Manchester City will give the Reds ‘a big lift’ going forward.

Mo Salah scored the only goal as Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0 at Anfield. It was a confidence-boosting victory for Klopp and his side after a poor start to the campaign and wretched luck with injuries in recent weeks.

Klopp was without the likes of Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz, Joel Matip and Naby Keita for the clash. But Liverpool fought hard and took their chance when Salah went through on goal with 14 minutes left.

It was an eventful game, as matches between Liverpool and City usually are. Phil Foden had a goal controversially ruled out in the 53rd minute. Klopp was also sent off in the final few minutes of normal time for shouting right at the linesman.

Liverpool ultimately came out on top and moved up to eighth in the Premier League as a result. They handed City their first league defeat of the season, with the Citizens still in second and now four points behind leaders Arsenal.

During an appearance on Sky Sports after the match, Carragher was asked about Klopp and the pressure the German has been under over the past few weeks.

The former Liverpool defender thinks pretty much all Reds fans will want Klopp to remain as boss.

“He’s a special manager, as is Pep Guardiola,” Carragher said on Sky Sports (16/10, at 19:13). “They’ve been the two best managers in the world over the last four or five years. A bit of nonsense talk – as you’d expect in different quarters – about Jurgen Klopp and his role after seven years.

Jamie Carragher believes Jurgen Klopp has full Liverpool backing

“Klopp signed a contract for the next three or four years. I don’t think there’s any Liverpool supporter in here [Anfield] or watching at home who does not want Klopp as their manager for those three or four years.”

Fellow pundit Roy Keane then predicted it to be an important seven days for Liverpool. They thrashed Rangers 7-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday and will play West Ham in three days’ time, before facing Nottingham Forest next weekend.

“This week is going to be a big week for them,” Keane said. “On paper, the couple of games coming up they’ll fancy their chances and all of a sudden the table looks different.

“The confidence they will get from today with the clean sheet, the spirit in the camp. Seven goals during the week, a clean sheet today, that’s what the game is about. When you win football matches it gives you a big lift.

“Come the end of the week the league table could look a lot better. It’s obviously very tight at the top, Arsenal have had a great start and Man City are still brilliant. But yeah, I think Liverpool will be feeling a lot better about themselves after the last few days.”

Liverpool can build on huge win

Keane also said that this match could be a ‘turning point’ for Liverpool’s season, and that is certainly the case.

They looked like their old selves against City by fighting for every ball and running more than their opponents. These are factors which have been lacking in some performances this term.

On Klopp’s future, Carragher is right about Liverpool fans being behind the boss. After all he has done for the club, it is hard to see him being pushed out any time soon.

He has history when it comes to getting Liverpool to go on a fantastic run and pretty much catch City. This is exactly what Liverpool did last season.

As such, the Merseyside giants cannot be written off just yet, even if they have some serious work to do.

Meanwhile, Klopp heaped praise on a ‘sensational’ Liverpool player and admitted his red card was ‘probably deserved’.