Watch Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s blazing on-air row with Des Kelly over BT Sport’s lunchtime kick-offs

LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp was involved in an incredible blazing on-air row with Des Kelly over BT Sport’s lunchtime kick-offs. The Reds boss was fuming after seeing another one of his players succumb to injury as his side slipped to a 1-1 draw with Brighton. James Milner, who had been depustising as Liverpool’s right-back for […]

LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp was involved in an incredible blazing on-air row with Des Kelly over BT Sport’s lunchtime kick-offs.

The Reds boss was fuming after seeing another one of his players succumb to injury as his side slipped to a 1-1 draw with Brighton.

James Milner, who had been depustising as Liverpool’s right-back for the second-half at the Amex, was forced off late with a hamstring problem.

Klopp was then forced to turn to 19-year-old midfielder Curtis Jones with first-choice defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez all sidelined.

The mounting injury issues have led to the German being a vocal critic of early Saturday matches for teams playing in Europe – with the Reds having faced Atalanta on Wednesday evening.

And after his early kick-off fears were realised Klopp launched into a furious tirade only to be challenged by BT Sport reporter Des Kelly.

Here’s the full transcript…

KELLY: Jurgen that’s a painful set back. We are talking about VAR again. Was it just? Was it right? Was it correct?

KLOPP: The two offside I didn’t see but I asked our analyst and he said yeah. It was really close, with Mo it was a foot but we are used to armpits and club badges, so if it is a toe then it is offside and the other one with Sadio I heard was clear. The penalty, yeah, it is how it is. The decisions were right yes.

KELLY: You think the decisions were right. Jordan Henderson says some of the Brighton players agreed that it wasn’t a penalty.

I don’t know how often I have to say it: you pick us for 12:30 kick-offs. You picked it. Not you, personally. But you did, didn’t you?

Jurgen Klopp

KLOPP: Look, you try to create again on my cost, you do, a headline because that is how it is. I said it was not a penalty because the ref blew his whistle. Don’t look like that, you try always all the time. Today I say it was a penalty and you are not happy with that answer. What do you want to hear? Then keep your answers to yourself.

KELLY: I was just telling you what your players said…

KLOPP: The players were close, I saw it. I said it was a pen because the ref whistled it after watching it.

KELLY: Okay so you agree with their decisions. In terms of the performance today then?

KLOPP: Very good. Very good. I couldn’t be more proud of the boys. You know what we said before the game what a possession team Brighton is but today I couldn’t see that. The boys played like we had to play the first half an hour. We struggled a bit with the last line with the balls in behind because we didn’t drop in the right moment. We got that sorted in the first half and in the second half we had no problems but we did have a problem with energy and we sat deeper and it was harder but the situation around the goals we scored were brilliant, even if they were disallowed. Mo’s goal was a brilliant goal. Sadio’s header was outstanding. The goal we scored was really cool. That was all good but that’s how it is at the moment. Its tough times.

KELLY: You warned us about Connolly before the game. You said he would cause problems and he was getting in behind through the lines.

KLOPP: Only two opportunities to defend that. You have to avoid the pass or drop in the right moment as he is running through gaps. We spoke before the game, the last line is not settled together but that is normal. You sometimes have to learn in the game. The boys did that, that was really good. Nate Phillips was exceptional so that was all good. In football always you need a bit of luck to win a tough away game and we didn’t have it so it was a draw

KELLY: Jota scoring run keeps going. He has slotted in so brilliantly.

KLOPP: It was just a good goal. The front three played really good together. It worked out really good.

KELLY: Mo Salah didn’t look to happy to be coming off early. I assume you are planning ahead for that, and what’s the information with James Milner?

KLOPP: On a day when Mo Salah is smiling when he leaves the pitch then I don’t know, something is really wrong. I get it 100 per cent. The problem is he had Covid and was out for 12 days and trained once, then played 60 minutes and three days later plays again. We just have to be careful. He doesn’t like that I know that but that’s it.

KELLY: And James Milner, hamstring is it?

KLOPP: Yeah, congratulations.

KELLY: Me personally?

KLOPP: No but you work for them yeah? Hamstring. Surprise. They had injuries as well because it’s a tough time. But ask Chris Wilder how we can avoid that.

KELLY: Maybe you’re firing at the wrong target.

Chris Wilder or whoever, constantly say I’m selfish. I think all the things he’s said shows that he’s selfish

Jurgen Klopp

KLOPP: Sorry?

KELLY: Maybe you’re firing at the wrong target. We are broadcasters. We work within the premier league rules and the premier league makes the rules. That’s the premier league clubs. So shouldn’t you be talking to premier league clubs? Shouldn’t you be talking to chief executives?

KLOPP: I don’t know how often I have to say it. You picked the 1230 kick-off. You. Not you personally but you did. Us on 12.30. Between now and December and New Year, there’s one more Wednesday and Saturday 12.30 kick-off.

KELLY: When you say ‘you picked the 12.30’, the Premier League clubs chose that slot. There’s a reason that slot is there, because it’s valuable to the Premier League.

KLOPP: These are difficult times.

KELLY: Of course it’s difficult, the stadiums are empty and the broadcasters are supporting the game.

KLOPP: But if you play at 3pm, or 5.30pm, it’s exactly the same. 

KELLY: That has different ramifications. Your chief executives and other chief executives should be having that discussion. If you come down here and just have a go at the broadcaster, it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not going to change anything.

KLOPP: I’m not having a go at the broadcasters, I just say how it is.

KELLY: You said it was criminal.

KLOPP: Playing 12:30 after Wednesday is really dangerous for the Premier League players.

KELLY: You also said the broadcasters don’t care and that’s the problem. That isn’t the problem…

KLOPP: Why did you pick us against Crystal Palace if you care?

KELLY: Well, I didn’t pick it but every pick is agreed by the Premier League, with every executive around that table.

KLOPP: It’s such a special season. You always rely on things we agreed in another time…

KELLY: No, no, no.

KLOPP: Yes you did.

KELLY: If it’s about Premier League player welfare why did the Premier League clubs block five subs?

KLOPP: That’s very interesting. Because when we had the talk between the managers a week ago, it was 15-5 or 16-4 in favour of five subs. But since then nothing happened. You need at least at least 14 votes and Chris Wilder or whoever, constantly say I’m selfish. I think all the things he’s said shows that he’s selfish but that’s not too important. I was in a similar situation as he is when I worked at Mainz – all about staying in the league. But now they [can make] three subs and have one point. So there’s no advantage or disadvantage. If you can do five subs in a game like this, it’s not for tactical reasons. For example, if we have had five subs today I would have taken off Robbo for Kostas to save Robbo, not to make our game better. It’s just to save the players. Of course I save my players. But it’s for all players. You will it from now on until December. We will see.

KELLY: We agree with you and I understand what you’re saying, but you’re going about it a strange way. You’re attacking the broadcaster instead of getting the support you need in the way you need in the Premier League meeting.

KLOPP: You will get praise for your interview because you stuck to [your point], so, great. What I want to say is that I only go for the broadcasters for the Wednesday and 12.30 [on Saturday]. Only seven managers have a similar problem and we all agree. I should stop doing it, and I want to, as it doesn’t help. The problem is we signed this contract… in this season it’s a bigger problem, no pre-season, because of the intensity, the shorter season etc. When we get this slot, it’s not OK. Have a look how many – I am not selfish but I obviously speak about Liverpool -when this year is over, we’ve had this slot three times. Who else has had it three times? No one. Of course it’s a problem for me to pick a team. That’s my problem.

KELLY: The problem is we can’t change it that way. We have to change it via the boardroom that we are talking about. But we could probably go on forever. Thanks Jurgen.