Klopp sidesteps Sakho storm after Hull win
Manager refuses to allow controversial comments to take gloss of a brilliant run
Jurgen Klopp would not allow controversial comments from defender Mamadou Sakho to take the gloss of a “brilliant” first-half performance from his Liverpool side as they beat Hull City 5-1 at Anfield.
Sakho said in a social media posting on Saturday that suggestions that he was not fit to play were a “lie”.
Sakho — who was sent home from Liverpool’s preseason tour of the United States for disciplinary reasons — is yet to play for the Reds this season and rejected the chance to move on loan before the transfer window closed.
Liverpool manager Klopp said earlier this month that the France international did not need to regain his trust but that Sakho needed to build up his fitness after not playing since April following a suspension for a failed drugs tests — subsequently overturned by Uefa — and an injury sustained in preseason.
But Sakho disputed those claims and said he had completed his rehabilitation work.
“I accept my situation but I can’t accept the lie — the fans deserve to know the truth,” the former Paris Saint-Germain defender, 29, said on Snapchat.
“Now it’s three weeks since I am fit to play games. I finish all my rehabilitation work.”
Klopp was asked about Sakho’s comments after Liverpool had won for a third successive Premier League game but said this was not the time to make a response.
The German added: “On a match day I’m in completely the wrong mood to think about things like this.
“I will address the situation when I think is the right moment. I haven’t decided when that is but it’s not Christmas.”
‘Brilliant first half’
Klopp had no other problems to contend with as he saw his side sweep aside a Hull side reduced to 10 men after half an hour when defender Ahmed Elmohamady was sent off for handling the ball on the line and conceding a penalty which gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead.
They were 3-0 up at the break and Klopp said: “The first half was brilliant. That was how football should be if you are able to do it.