Liverpool fixtures ‘a crime deserving of investigation by Amnesty International’, says Klopp.

Liverpool fixtures ‘a crime deserving of an investigation by Amnesty International, says Klopp.

Jurgen Klopp has launched a full-throttle attack on TNT Sports’ match-fixing, labeling his side’s recent plan a “crime worthy of an Amnesty International investigation”.

Klopp has been a long-standing critic of the 12.30 pm Saturday kick-off slot, particularly for sides with UEFA commitments and midweek fixture congestion. He claimed that TV broadcasters were partly responsible for the failure of English clubs in European competition this season.

The Liverpool manager was evidently biting his tongue in the build-up to the 12.30 pm 2-2 draw with West Ham last weekend, but let it slip in his pre-match briefing on Friday.

“Seeing Aston Villa lose 4-2 last night, it would mean that if they really go out, no English team is in any European final,” Klopp said.

“I watch a lot of football around the world. The Premier League is the best league in the world. So it’s not overrated. Players are overworked. So easy. You can talk about it until everyone finally realizes it, but someone has to help people.

“I’m not exactly sure how many more Champions League games they have next year. Three? Three more Champions League games and you’ve interrupted what it is, a League Cup semi-final, second leg. And the discussion you all allow: ‘What is it? Did they stop one game?’

“Only recently I had a discussion with colleagues from our favorite TV channel, which I will definitely not watch again, TNT, and I said that this is always a conversation that they have, they say that they pay you, they give money for football. It’s not so. I really don’t see it that way. It’s the exact opposite. Football pays them. They broadcast it, they deliver, but it’s not like TNT isn’t doing extremely well or Sky or whoever is doing extremely well.

“You have to become a part of football again and not just a presser. That’s it, a little advice from an old man on the way out. I’ll watch a lot of football, but not all of it, because people will survive without match days from time to time, that’s for sure.”

“I was waiting for Amnesty International”
Klopp suggested the Premier League title contenders would have progressed in Europe but for their tough schedule.

“We, City and Arsenal are in the quarter-finals. This is simply not a reflection of quality. It’s just a reflection if we couldn’t deliver on the day when we had to,” said Klopp.

“Yes, other countries have really good teams, no doubt about that, but it’s a sign. I think years ago we had four English teams in the quarter-finals.

“You always think that when I talk about it, it’s because of our last situation. No, it’s a general problem. It has nothing to do with our schedule right now. Our schedule is right, it’s good. Can we use it? I do not know, we will see. But that they dare to give us Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 12:30 is a crime.

I was actually waiting for Amnesty International to go to them. Someone is sitting there deciding it. I would like to meet them. I’d love to be at that meeting one day where someone says, ‘Liverpool 12.30’ and the whole room bursts into laughter. ‘Again?!’ I’d like to be there.

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“This morning they sent me the statistics of the biggest turnover in the whole world. Liverpool FC, yes (laughs). And we’re sitting there and I’m the same way. I tell you, ‘You have to do more, you have to fight more and you have to go for it.’ We have the fastest turnaround between games anywhere in the world. This is absolutely insane. But they are still happy and like subscribers. You can cross me off that list!

 

“If you’re looking for a scholar [shakes head].”

Klopp’s comment could be a complication for TNT if they hope to broadcast his last game as Liverpool’s manager. TNT has a “second choice” of the final round of games, which could make Klopp’s last stand attractive if the title race and relegation issues are resolved and Sky picks a match between champions Manchester City or Arsenal.

Klopp was still furious at the VAR wail in Liverpool’s defeat to Tottenham

Klopp says he has ‘500 reasons’ to beat Tottenham this weekend after the two sides’ controversial meeting earlier this season.

Liverpool were denied a legal Luis Diaz goal in their 2-1 defeat by Spurs in October, VAR failing to correctly communicate that the Colombian was onside.

PGMOL admitted “significant human error” after audio revealed a shambolic process that failed to inform referee Simon Cooper to award a goal.

Klopp remains angry that the unprecedented error was brushed aside in the same way as an error in judgment or the result of a questionable, subjective refereeing decision. He said at the time he felt the match should be replayed, although the club did not follow that procedure.

But the memories linger.

“I don’t want to make it the biggest topic, but I can’t forget the [last] Tottenham game, it was just so special,” Klopp said.

“Only last night was the first time since Tottenham that Simon Hooper stood next to me for 90 minutes in a game I didn’t enjoy at all against Everton. I tried to get it out of my head and couldn’t. Now we play Tottenham and obviously, it wasn’t their fault that night, they just played the game, but I would have liked to have won that game for 500 reasons, and losing the way we did there is one of them.

Liverpool were also reduced to nine men after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were sent off; Jota’s dismissal was later judged wrong by a panel of experts.

If Liverpool wins this game, they could still be in with a chance of winning the Premier League title with three games remaining. Klopp has effectively admitted that is now impossible for his side.

“I know mathematically there’s still a chance, but it looks like it’s all over,” Klopp said.

“The pressure is off now and it would be really great if we could play some really good football again. The last few weeks have been really tense. Playing Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday didn’t work out very well for us after a long season. Going back to the start of the season, everyone knew how important it would be to qualify for the Champions League again. It is very important for the future of the club.”

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