LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted Friday he had no qualms about criticizing the atmosphere at Anfield during a midweek rout of West Ham.
Klopp was unimpressed with the home crowd during a 5-1 League Cup quarter-final thrashing of the Hammers and told fans to give their tickets away if they are not prepared to get behind the side against Premier League title rivals Arsenal on Saturday.
“I am pretty sure not everyone is thinking ‘Oh my God, Klopp is right’,” the Reds boss told a pre-match news conference on Friday.
“It’s not about that, it is my feeling directly after a game. It was exactly like that.
“I turned around because people were talking after we had missed a chance. I turned around and people were like flat. What do you want? Creating a chance is the closest you can get to scoring a goal.”
The German added: “We are in a pretty good position in the league, maybe quicker than what people expected. The difference for me is, if you have a chance and you miss it is like ‘ohhh’ (shrugs). But after that the stadium goes bonkers because immediately we go for the next chance. That is the difference.”
But Klopp, a hugely popular figure with Liverpool fans since arriving on Merseyside in 2015, insisted his time at Anfield had been overwhelmingly positive.
“It is no criticism,” he said. “I have enjoyed 99.7 percent of each second in that stadium. I love it to bits. The atmosphere and these people. I am happy with everything, but if people can do better then show us. That is all... I have nothing more to say about the atmosphere.
“What I said is that we need Anfield tomorrow (against Arsenal). That is 100 percent true, and I can’t wait for when the first whistle goes.”
Earlier, Liverpool supporters’ group Spirit of Shankly said it had “no argument” with Klopp’s initial comments about the atmosphere at home games but warned younger fans were being priced out of games at Anfield.
“It’s something our fans discuss regularly, it is central to the club’s and Anfield’s identity, and something the most passionate among us are keen to protect,” said a statement from the group.
“It is no accident that opposing teams, coaches and fans speak about the ‘Anfield effect’. We all know how intimidating the crowd can make it for visiting sides, how the atmosphere can be second to none.”
The group said it feared the club’s culture was at risk.
“We do have concerns though about the lack of opportunities for young supporters to go to the game, catch the bug and preserve this decades-long culture of the Kop, and deep-rooted worries that our culture is being watered down by greater corporate offerings and out-of-reach ticket prices — echoed by supporters across the Premier League.
“We are in constant dialogue with the club to explore ways we can improve the situation,” the group added.
Klopp stands by Anfield comments after Liverpool fan group backing
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Klopp stands by Anfield comments after Liverpool fan group backing
- “I am pretty sure not everyone is thinking ‘Oh my God, Klopp is right’,” the Reds boss told a pre-match news conference on Friday
- “I have enjoyed 99.7 percent of each second in that stadium. I love it to bits”
Milan must maintain derby dominance to revive title race
- Milan are undefeated in the last six derbies, winning four
- Inter have dropped just two points in the last 15 games
MILAN: AC Milan need to maintain their recent dominance over neighbors Inter Milan in this weekend’s derby to keep alive any realistic hope of challenging for the Serie A title after losing ground to the league leaders.
Milan are undefeated in the last six derbies, winning four, and Sunday’s meeting at the San Siro feels like a must-win match for the second-placed side with Inter 10 points clear at the top.
At the start of January, three teams were battling for the Scudetto. Inter held a one-point lead over Milan, with reigning champions Napoli a further point back, but only one side has maintained title-winning form.
Inter have dropped just two points in the last 15 games to pull further away at the top while Milan have let seven points slip away in their most recent six games.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan have lost two league games all season compared to Inter’s four defeats, but drawing nine times has been their downfall and another stalemate on Sunday would be of little use to a side playing catch-up.
“In derbies there are no favorites,” Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“We saw it last season too, in the league we struggled and finished eighth, but we often won derbies. The derby is a story in itself.
“Nothing is over yet. There are 11 games left and the important thing is to stay united and give our best until the last minute.”
Inter are still without injured striker Lautaro Martinez, with Francesco Pio Esposito likely to lead the attack while Milan defender Matteo Gabbia is expected to be out for a month after undergoing a hernia operation.
DERBY DAY VERDICT
Inter’s most recent derby win came in April, 2024, where an away victory allowed them to clinch their last league title in front of the Milan fans.
That win was the last in a run of six successive victories over Milan, and while another derby victory would not seal the title this time, a gap of 13 points with 10 games left would leave Inter in cruise control for the rest of the season.
Napoli, meanwhile, are four points behind Milan, their title defense ended by two defeats in their last six games and they host Torino on Friday.
AS Roma, fourth in the standings, are at Genoa on Sunday, while Como are away to Cagliari on Saturday as Cesc Fabregas’ side have European qualification firmly in their sights.
Como are fifth, three points off Roma and one ahead of Juventus who host relegation-battling Pisa on Saturday.
