Klopp slams scheduling of Liverpool’s next game against Man City
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has another reason to be smiling heading into the international break after watching his side breeze past Brentford on Sunday. The Reds recorded a routine 3-0 victory at Anfield to move up to second in the Premier League behind Manchester City, with Mohamed Salah’s double and Diogo Jota’s strike handing them a convincing victory. And with a mouthwatering clash against Pep Guardiola’s City coming up, Klopp will have an even stronger team available at his disposal.
Klopp was forced to make do without defensive pair Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate after the pair were ruled out of the clash with separate injury issues. Gomez had played the full 90 minutes in their 3-2 defeat to Toulouse in the Europa League three days before, but suffered a setback in his preparation for the weekend clash.
Konate was left as an unused substitute for the match in France and his absence was more expected. Both problems have been described as ‘minor’, however, and it appears leaving them out was merely a precaution taken by Liverpool’s medical team. The centre-back’s withdrawal from the France squad will at least allow him to recover over the next fortnight.
Klopp had already referenced the absences of Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones after ruling them out of the Toulouse game. The Dutchman had a chance to be fit for the Brentford game but Klopp decided not to take the risk, while Jones’ recovery means he will be back in a fortnight.
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“Ryan got a little niggle of the knee,” Klopp said on Wednesday. “It is not major, he was running already today, but [there was] no chance for this game. We hope there is a chance for Brentford, and he will definitely be back after the international break. That’s why he’s not here. Curtis had a hamstring [injury] last week. Not massive. After the international break he will be back, but not before.”
But with all four players carrying minor injuries, Klopp can expect to have them back for the crunch clash with City at the Etihad Stadium on November 25. What’s more, Alexis Mac Allister will also return to the squad to face City after serving a one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards this season.
The German took the opportunity to praise his players’ efforts but raged again at yet another early kick-off after the international break, claiming the players face a race against time to be back for the clash just two days after the last round of international fixtures.
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“Today was about getting through the game and we did,” the Liverpool manager said after the 3-0 win. “The boys responded sensationally well. Now they are all gone and we can train once before Manchester City. How can you put a game like this on Saturday at 12.30pm?
“Honestly, the people making these decisions, they cannot feel football, it is just not possible. And it is the moment where the world pays the most to see a football game.”
Assessing their chances of a title challenge and being ahead of where they expected to be, Klopp added: “It’s possible [the team is ahead of schedule] but I didn’t think about it. But it feels good. It is only November but it’s really important we have the same points as other teams.
“We didn’t play perfect football yet, not even close, but we fight our way through in moments, we showed a top reaction today and it is all fine. We have to keep going with all the other teams until March or April and if you are still there, we can start talking.”
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