It's been a trying season for Jurgen Klopp. Though Liverpool are top of the Premier League table after a dramatic win over Spurs last night, their German manager has had to cope with a number of frustrations this season.
Klopp appeared to clash with Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho after Liverpool's dramatic 2-1 victory at Anfield, although that confrontation was brought on by the Special One. Mourinho was not happy when speaking after the match.
The exact moment Mourinho told Klopp 'the best team lost' 🤨 pic.twitter.com/jWlwJs57tH
— GOAL (@goal) December 17, 2020
Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland star Mark Lawrenson feels Jurgen Klopp doesn't love the game in the way he used to. Speaking today on talksport he said:
"I think at the moment, although they won last night and he’ll be delighted with the way they won, he doesn’t look happy with football. I’m not saying he doesn’t look happy with Liverpool, the team or the results, but he just doesn’t look happy with football.
“There’s VAR, and everybody has peeved about VAR, the lack of fans, and the big thing is the five sub rule. I think he’s got a point and everyone will come round to that. When he first said about having five subs I thought no, it just makes the stronger teams even stronger.
“But when you look at football now and the amount of games we’re having, they’ve had the whole European group campaign in about four of five weeks, which they’ve had to do, as well as league and cup games – it’s mad.
“So I think this could be a special year and I do think they should bring it in. And the things with fans, without spectators the game is just completely different. Even last night with 2,000 at Anfield it’s just very, very strange.
“Klopp, Mourinho, They want a perfect world and they want to win every week, all managers are the same,” Lawrenson said.
FT: #LFC 2 Spurs 1: Firmino's dramatic late header sends Liverpool top of the Premier League table with a hard-fought victory. They left it late but the champions deserved that. Kept going and ultimately got their reward. Son had cancelled out Salah's opener. Klopp enjoyed that.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) December 16, 2020
Klopp has been unhappy with a few different things this season, expressing some frustration in an interview with BT Sport after the Brighton game.
He has taken issue with fixture scheduling, the use of VAR and the fact he's not been allowed to make five substitutes. Liverpool have also suffered a number of high-profile injuries, including the loss of captain Virgil Van Dyck.
All that said, Liverpool still sit on top of the league after 13 games and are in a great position to retain the title they won last year, after a 30 year drought. Klopp did seem pleased to salute the fans in the Kop after the fulltime whistle last night
Waking up and immediately searching for Jurgen Klopp celebrating with The Koppic.twitter.com/x9y8HZTaro
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) December 17, 2020
