Klopp reinstates ground on Super League

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he likes the super league ruling but would stick to the original decision of the club.

The Liverpool manager made the statement during his press conference ahead of the top table clash on Friday afternoon. According to Klopp, he  “likes” the court decision that declared the prohibition of a Super League by FIFA and UEFA to be illegal, but he still opposes the idea.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday against FIFA and UEFA, who had earlier taken legal action to prevent football teams from participating in the proposed Super League.

Six Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, had pledged to join the breakaway league in 2021, before all putting out public statements withdrawing after severe public backlash in the days that followed. The majority of English teams, including Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur, issued statements after the ECJ’s decision on Thursday, confirming their earlier withdrawals.

Then, on Friday morning, Arsenal made their statement; Liverpool’s followed shortly after at lunchtime, just in time for Klopp’s press conference prior to their matchup with the north London team this coming weekend.

“Yesterday’s ruling by the European Court of Justice does not change Liverpool FC’s previous stance on a proposed European Super League,” the Liverpool statement read. “Our involvement has been discontinued. We will continue to work with fellow clubs through the ECA and participate in UEFA competitions.”

He further added that;

“I agree 100 per cent with that statement but I like the verdict anyway, it looks like it that we finally get a bit of understanding that FIFA and UEFA and other FAs cannot just do what they want. Creating new, first we have to talk about in the future, putting in competitions with more games and no one has a real say in it. I like it that they can’t shake or not exactly do what they want but Super League, same opinion.”

Klopp also gave update on the fitness of Andy Robertson, Diogo Jota and Alexis Mac Allister ahead of the match: “Andy, I sat with him pretty long yesterday and he is doing pretty well. The problem is the shoulder is not there (yet), the rest of the body is fine, but we need to be patient a bit longer. He can do all the physical work already which annoys him quite a lot, because it is not allowed for ball training.

“Physically, when he is allowed to go, shoulder-wise, I think it is a short time until he is back and we all hope it will be January but I don’t know. Macca & Diogo are getting closer and closer but not ready.”

While managing Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has never used the legendary mind tricks as a weapon, but as he left the Anfield press room on Wednesday night, it was easy to assume that he had. After Klopp left, the only thing on everyone’s mind was the potency of the Anfield atmosphere ahead of Arsenal’s visit on Saturday.

This was after the team had just defeated West Ham United 5-1 to advance to the Carabao Cup semi-finals with what was arguably their best performance of the season. Before the match at the top of the table, which will decide who gets to spend Christmas Day at the top of English football, there hasn’t been much discussion in the days that have passed.

Klopp said: It was a long time ago now, but I have to say I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me. I asked people what do they want? We changed a lot of things and we dominated West Ham like crazy and missed chances.”

“If I was in the stands I would be on my toes, 1,000%. I don’t know if the Manchester United game was that bad that we have to say sorry we didn’t smash them. We need Anfield on Saturday.”

“They didn’t play this week, they prepared for this game and anyone who knows anything about them knows they will be prepared. So we need Anfield on their toes from the first second, without me having an argument with the opposition coach or whatever. We need you from the first second…..”

Watch the full video of the press conference here