Klopp takes swipe at new Uefa league
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp took aim at Uefa’s new Nations League competition, labelling it ‘‘senseless’’, after his side headed into the international break with a home draw against Premier League leader Manchester City yesterday.
Klopp and his City counterpart Pep Guardiola were satisfied with their teams’ displays in a tight, tactical encounter which finished 00 at Anfield, but the German was clearly frustrated to now lose his players for international duty.
The Nations League was introduced this year by European football’s governing body Uefa, largely to replace friendly matches with competitive games in a minigroup format.
‘‘Now the players go off and play the Nations League which is the most senseless competition in the world of football,’’ said Klopp, who urged the football authorities to look at the issue of players being overused.
‘‘We have to start thinking about the players. You have to call the manager of any country and say, ‘Can you leave players out?’ and he says, ‘I am under pressure as well’.’’
He said his England mid fielder, Jordan Henderson, had barely two weeks’ rest following the World Cup in Russia.
The German coach was pleased with a point from yesterday’s topofthetable clash with City, which left the pair level with Chelsea on 20 points and ahead of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
‘‘And Arsenal are two points behind and they won six games in a row. It looks like they are in a good shape,’’ Klopp said.
‘‘I am really happy with what the boys did. I thought how we defended was brilliant. We have played City often and they are outstanding. It was really intense and both showed respect for the other team,’’ he said.
Guardiola acknowledged that his side had chosen to lower the tempo in the game to limit the potency of Liverpool’s attack.
‘‘If it is an open game at Anfield, you don’t even have 1% of a chance,’’ he said. ‘‘We control it through Riyad [Mahrez], Bernardo [Silva], the guys to give the extra pass.’’
Guardiola defended Mahrez, who missed a great chance to win the game when he blasted an 86thminute penalty over the bar.
‘‘He had the courage and the balls to hit the penalty. In the training session he shoots perfect penalties, and OK this sometimes happens so at the end it is what it is.’’ The penalty was awarded when City substitute Leroy Sane was brought down in the area by the lunging Virgil van Dijk but with regular penalty taker Sergio Aguero having been substituted, Algerian Mahrez took the responsibility and blasted the spot kick high over the bar.
Liverpool, which remains unbeaten in its last 18 home games against City, came out roaring and dominated the opening 10 minutes but Guardiola’s side weathered that early storm, slowed down the game and frustrating the home side. Klopp’s front three had been deadly in the two home games against City last season but the service to them was restricted and the trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane could create little from their limited opportunities.
The best chances fell to Salah but the Egyptian showed again that he is lacking last season’s sharpness, blasting well off target when found in space in the 69th minute.
Mahrez twice forced good saves from Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker after the break but then failed to find the target from the penalty spot when the three points were at stake.
In other games yesterday, Southampton lost at home to Chelsea 30 and Fulham was trounced at home by Arsenal, 51.