Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp met the media a few hours ago to preview tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Huddersfield Town. We have video of the entire media session for you here below via YouTube.
There were a whole host of topics covered in the Klopp news conference, including: an update on the injury/fitness situation (Naby Keita was the only player about which he said anything conclusive), another swipe at the UEFA Nations League, his friendship with the manager on the opposing touchline tomorrow (who happens to be celebrating a birthday), Virgil van Dijk playing through the pain of a rib injury and much much more.
“You make a lot of my comments about the Nations League,” Klopp said as he took another swipe at the competition.
“And everyone has their opinion about it, but the things they say about it are exactly what I think — it’s too much in that competition: ‘Proper games, real opponents, it is better than having any friendlies’.
“That’s all good but you don’t want to see [heavyweight boxer Anthony] Joshua fighting every second night, it’s not possible. This week he fights in Leeds, next week he fights in Manchester and no one asked for it.
“In American Football you have the summer break which is longer than our season — it’s not that long, but it’s a real proper break. In basketball they have a summer league, whatever it is, and then come together.”
“Only [in] football everyone seems to be interested in now having only big competitions where you can get promoted or relegated. Or when Wales play Ireland they play for something and the atmosphere in the stadium is different.”
“Do we want to have opera every night or every two months? I like competition, of course, but at one point someone has to step back and think: ‘OK, wait, wait, wait. They are players who play’. If they don’t perform I am angry, so how can we make sure they perform?
“That’s all I wanted to say. The Nations League itself is a good idea, [but] do it in another sport because in football there is no space for it.
“I realise already I could have told my coffee machine because no one is really interested, but it is still my opinion.
“We only have highlights now, ‘highlight, highlight, highlight’. Where is the rest? When can we have normal things? That is all I was talking about.”
Liverpool vs Huddersfield FYIs
Kickoff: Saturday Oct 20, St. John’s Stadium, 5:30 PM local
Odds via 888 Sport: Liverpool FC 27/100, Huddersfield 10/1, Draw 22/5
Match Preview: go to this link
Injury Report for both sides: go to this link
Liverpool Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Prediction: Liverpool FC 3, Huddersfield 2
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