Ahead of tonight’s round of 16 UEFA Champions League clash at Bayern Munich, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp dismissed the “advice” put forth by Manchester United club legend and current pundit Gary Neville. The Class of ’92 member believes the Reds should take a dive in the Champions League, where they are currently 0-0 on aggregate after the home leg versus Bayern, so they could instead focus on the push for the Premier League title.
Liverpool are currently one point behind Manchester City, who reside at the top of the table.
“I’m going to say it: go out against Bayern Munich,” Neville said on the extremely creatively named The Gary Neville Podcast.
“That sounds like madness. Of course, you’d never play to lose a game, but it will be in Liverpool’s favor if they have a clean run as they can get everyone fresh,” Neville continued
Obviously, the fierceness of the rivalry between the two clubs contributes to Klopp’s “consider the source” mentality at work here.
“I don’t think any other manager in the world other than the Liverpool manager would be asked this question when they are playing a Champions League game,” Klopp said at his news conference Tuesday ahead of the UCL match.
“The pundits come from Manchester United and start this thing! That is how it is. You also ask us in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup if it is better that we don’t win.”
“We won’t see it like this. In the cups, we wanted to go through and we didn’t, but we want to win this game. The whole world is watching tomorrow night, but we want to be focused on this game. Even if it harms us (by advancing through), we could not change it.”
“I just wish the guys who write these questions find a way in real life to make it possible and not just in the studio. It would help.”
“If we win this game, it could build momentum. If we win tomorrow and play good football, it could change the world. If not, on Thursday it is over and we concentrate on Fulham.”
Props to Klopp for the veiled “studio gangster” shot fired at Neville there. Of course, how could anyone ask Klopp to not go full bore?
In the words of comedian superstar and Liverpool ultra supporter John Oliver, Klopp: “does not understand not doing things at full pace all the time.”
Liverpool FC at Bayern Munich UEFA Champions League Round of 16 (Aggregate 0-0) FYIs
Kickoff: Wednesday, March 13, 8PM local, Allianz Arena
Liverpool Starting XI prediction: go to this link
Injury Report for both teams: go to this link
Odds to qualify via Betfair: Liverpool 4/5, Bayern Munich 10/11
Google Result Probability: Bayern Munich win 45% Draw 27% Liverpool win 28%
Prediction: Bayern Munich 1, Liverpool 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.