‘It’s a fair cop,’ says Klopp after Liverpool manager hit with fine
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has accepted his English Football Association misconduct charge for running on the pitch after conceding it was a mistake.
The German raced into the centre circle to celebrate with goalkeeper Alisson Becker when Divock Origi scored a winner in the sixth minute of added time against Everton at Anfield on Sunday.
He immediately apologised to opposite number Marco Silva afterwards but an FA charge was inevitable and Klopp, whom it is understood has been fined £8,000 (Dh37,650), has no issue with that.
“Absolutely OK, to be honest. I couldn’t avoid it, but that’s what the rules are for and if you break rules, you have to be fined for it,” he said.
“That’s what happened, no problem with that, it’s completely normal. The last time I did it was around 14 years ago. I’m not that quick any more. It will be fine.”
Asked whether he would do it again, considering the circumstances and emotion of a Merseyside derby, he added: “Not in the next 14 years!”
Klopp is keen to move on quickly from the incident, and the result, as his side are back in action again at Burnley today.
The Clarets have made life difficult for Liverpool recently, with three of their previous six matches settled by one goal and their last meeting – on January 1 – won by Ragnar Klavan’s added-time strike.
“It was brilliant in the dressing room after the game [on Sunday] but can you carry it for two or three days? The whole season is still there, we feel in a good moment,” Klopp said.
The trip to Turf Moor will be the second game in a run of 10 matches in five weeks and Klopp is expected to make changes to his side.
A couple may be enforced as forward Sadio Mane sustained a cut foot in the Merseyside derby while left-back Andrew Robertson has a minor problem.
“Sadio and Robbo we need to have another look today. Sadio had an awful cut on his foot, it needed to be stitched. It’s OK, he’s walking around now in flip-flops but we don’t play in flip-flops,” Klopp said.
“Today, he is not ready but we will see later. With Robbo it is not that serious, but we will need to have a look.”
Elsewhere, Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said highly-regarded midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek will not be leaving in the January transfer window despite the limited starting opportunites he has had this season.
Loftus-Cheek, who shone for England when he was selected at the World Cup in Russia, came on and scored for Chelsea in the 2-0 win over Fulham on Sunday.
However, his first-team starts this season have largely been in the Europa League and several clubs have been linked with moves for him.
Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, West Ham, Newcastle and German outfit Schalke 04 are all interested in taking him out on loan.
However, Sarri, whose side play out-of-form Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight, put a dampener on their hopes yesterday.
“No,” he replied when asked at his eve of match press conference would Loftus-Cheek be moving. “I want him to stay with me, to stay with us. There is no chance.”
Sarri is also determined to keep veteran duo centre-back David Luiz and midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Both of their contracts are up at the end of the campaign and there is a stand-off between the two 31-year-olds with the club over the length of new deal being offered.
“The club want a short contract and the players want a long contract,” said Sarri. “So it’s difficult for this reason. [But] we can find a solution.”
That’s what the rules are for and if you break the rules you have to be fined for it. That’s what happened, no problem JURGEN KLOPP Liverpool manager