EPL

'If no one tells me to go, I will not go' – Klopp won't quit amid Liverpool slump

By Sports Desk January 17, 2023

Jurgen Klopp has denied he is "too loyal" to players and said he will only leave Liverpool if he is forced out.

The Reds have had a disappointing season so far, compounded by recent limp Premier League defeats at Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Liverpool have a number of key players who have been at the club for most of Klopp's seven years on Merseyside, amid suggestions there has been insufficient replenishment of a team who have been one of the most successful in Europe in recent seasons.

"I heard I'm too loyal, but I am not too loyal. The problem is too complex. If you can then go out and bring in another player to replace him, then it makes sense," manager Klopp said at a press conference. "But if you cannot bring anyone in, you cannot take anyone out.

"I am not too loyal. At [Borussia] Dortmund, it was clear when I left [in 2015], I said 'something has to change here'. It is a different situation.

"Either the manager's position changes or a lot of other things change. So, as far as I am concerned unless someone tells me, I will not go.

"I will be here for as long as I am wanted. If no one tells me to go, I will not go. So that means maybe there is a point where we have to change other stuff. We will see that, but that is something for the future. Like summer or whatever. Not now.

"I have space and time to think about it, we have to play better football now."

Liverpool face Wolves in an FA Cup third-round replay at Molineux on Tuesday, another huge game for Klopp's team who won the competition last season.

Although Klopp suggested it is unlikely Liverpool will make another move in the January transfer window – having already signed Dutch forward Cody Gakpo from PSV – he did acknowledge that it is not for the lack of desire to do so.

There has been a clamour from the club's fans to add another midfielder, with Thiago Alcantara the only recognised midfielder signed permanently since 2018.

"We look outside as well," Klopp said. "It's not that we are stubborn and think that's it, we'll go with these boys until 2050 or whatever. That's not how we see it, it's all about what we can do and these kind of things – and what you want to do. More important is what you can do. It's always the same, each year.

"I cannot change my answers – if the solutions are out there for us, available and doable, of course we would bring in players to help. But we have an existing squad as well and we are underperforming, definitely, I know that. But I cannot sit here and blame everyone else, the players, all the time. It is my responsibility.

"We have limited options, but we have players with contracts here, they are not available. But if we bring in players, we cannot bring them all in the Premier League and Champions League list."

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    Jurgen Klopp's long-time assistant Pep Lijnders has agreed to take over at Salzburg, the Austrian club and Liverpool have confirmed.

    Lijnders joined the Reds in 2014 as under-16s coach, before he became first-team development coach a year later.

    Initially working under Brendan Rodgers, Lijnders has played a key role in Klopp's staff since the German took over at Anfield in October 2015.

    It was confirmed in January that Lijnders would join Klopp in leaving Liverpool, and the Dutchman will now take a step into management, having agreed a three-year deal with Salzburg.

    "I am very proud to become the new head coach of Salzburg," said Lijnders.

    "This is a real privilege for me. After PSV, Porto and Liverpool, I am now moving to another exceptional club with a really good structure and a particular focus on youth development.

    "I want to develop a mentality with the team that places a lot of emphasis on an attacking style of play and where passion and hunger for success are the basis of everything.

    "My family has visited the city before and was overwhelmed by its beauty and the friendliness of the people. That was the last and important step for me in choosing Salzburg."

    This is Lijnders' second managerial position, after a brief spell at NEC Nijmegen.

    Lijnders will be joined by another of Liverpool's backroom staff, Vitor Matos, who will serve as his assistant. They are replacing Gerhard Struber, who was dismissed in April by 17-time Austrian champions Salzburg.

    The duo, along with Klopp and the rest of his staff, will celebrate the end of their glorious Liverpool tenure when the Reds take on Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.

  • Klopp laments late lapse as Liverpool fail to see out win Klopp laments late lapse as Liverpool fail to see out win

    Jurgen Klopp was lamented his side's late mistake as Liverpool gave up a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Monday.

    The Reds were on top after a quick start as Emiliano Martinez gifted them an opener inside the first 61 seconds. Though Youri Tielemans equalised for Villa, Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah put Liverpool back in control.

    Jhon Duran scored twice late on, netting in the 85th and 88th minutes to deny Klopp’s side three points.

    Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the German admitted that though they could not see out the win, he was proud of his team’s performance.

    He said: "It got away from us. We played really good football. We were really good, played a lot of good stuff and caused a lot of problems.

    "Before we changed, we gave them too many chances. It was very intense for the boys. They created too much. They were too often in our box, and we made the changes. Then we made a mistake. It happens but in that moment, it opens the door.

    "They scored an equaliser, and I don't even know how. The character from the boys tonight was outstanding in our situation. We wanted to win the game. In the moment, when we gave away the 3-2, that was really tricky. That's it, that's the story of the game."

    It looked like Quansah’s goal would be the winner for much of the second half, with the young defender heading in his first goal for Liverpool.

    "I've been waiting for that moment," he told the BBC. "I don't score too many goals, so when it goes in the back of the net you just saw the emotion come out I guess.

    "I just tried to get the best contact on it as I could. I'm thankful it went in.

    "The way the crowd celebrated was a surreal moment, definitely one I'll never forget."

  • Emery praises 'special' Duran in Villa comeback Emery praises 'special' Duran in Villa comeback

    Unai Emery has praised "special" Jhon Duran after his late brace secured Aston Villa a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday.

    The Reds looked to be on their way to a 3-1 despite Youri Tielemans’ strike after Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah added to Emiliano Martinez’s early own goal.

    However, Duran's 79th-minute introduction changed the game as the Colombian scored twice in three minutes to salvage a draw.

    Villa needed a win to secure a Champions League spot, but a point keeps their fate in their own hands despite Tottenham having a game in hand against Manchester City on Tuesday.

    Emery was full of praise for his forward, acknowledging how important his goals could be by Sunday.

    Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "Jhon Duran is a special player. We have to try and help him. He is a good guy, and he needs a team behind him. He is getting our demands better. He was very clinical and today was important for him.

    "Today we are celebrating with our supporters, we have to push it and keep working and be consistent. We were consistent all the season. The team was being mature and always consistent in our mind. Inch by inch we did it.

    "We are very proud of the season. It is not enough at the moment to get fourth. Even after we scored the two goals, we had chances. We are celebrating the season here with our supporters in Villa Park.

    "We are only thinking of us. We will prepare for our match on Sunday, everything is in our hands."

    Villa were on a three-game losing run going into the Liverpool contest, and John McGinn highlighted the team’s strong mentality to avoid another defeat.

    "It's a brilliant effort towards the end. We got a bit of luck. It's been a tough few weeks with lads coming back and playing through the pain barrier. This place got us going," he told Sky Sports after the game.

    "There's some of us that have never been close to the Champions League in our life. The manager has a no-excuse mentality. People have written us off and we've floated under the radar. We'll have our Man City tops on tomorrow.

    "Big Jhon [Duran] is a bit nuts and is a nightmare to have in your team, but he's got quality. We need to keep his feet on the ground over the next couple of days."

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