Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has light-heartedly taken out his frustration over the Premier League fixture schedule on a Sky Sports reporter. The German is unhappy at his side having to play title rivals Manchester City in the early kick-off on Saturday.
Klopp has never hidden his true feelings on matches being arranged due to TV selection. He was one of the Premier League bosses to complain about teams being forced to play at 12.30pm on a Saturday after being involved in a Wednesday night Champions League tie.
A rule has now come into place to prevent that, with Manchester United’s match at Burnley earlier this season moved to 8pm for that very reason. But Klopp is still far from happy with the scheduling.
He vented his anger before the international break and has seemingly not let it go. He was involved in a light-hearted exchange with Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor at Liverpool’s open training session on Thursday.
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Klopp was filmed getting O’Connor into a headlock and jokingly giving him a jab to the stomach. The German was heard saying to the reporter: “Thank you for the 12.30.”
O’Connor appeared to take it well and the pair chatted afterwards while the training session continued. Liverpool make the trip to City on Saturday lunchtime, less than 72 hours after several players from both teams arrived back in the UK following their international exploits.
Sky Sports will be showing the heavyweight clash. The broadcaster had requested a 5.30pm kick-off but it was rejected after consultation with the police.
Alexis Mac Allister, Alisson, Ederson and Julian Alvarez were in Rio for Brazil’s clash against Argentina in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Liverpool also had Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez in South America, with the duo playing for Colombia and Uruguay respectively.
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Liverpool had all their players out on the training field on Thursday. But Klopp made it clear earlier this month that the organisation will be to the detriment of the quality on show.
He said: “How can you put a game like this on Saturday at 12.30pm?. Honestly, the people making the decisions, they cannot feel football. It is just not possible. This is the moment the world pays the most to see a football game.
“And by the way, the players will all come back on the same plane, all the South American players, picking them up from different countries.
“You have to fight your way through the most difficult league in the world and be ready on Thursday and on Sunday, and Thursday. And if the Premier League has the opportunity to do it, be ready on Saturday at 12.30pm!”
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