WAKE-UP CALL
REDS ON SHAKY GROUND WITH KLOPP UNTIL SALAH PENALTY SALVAGES DRAW
JURGEN KLOPP admitted he had to give his Liverpool side a ‘shake’ as they laboured to a 1-1 draw and missed the chance to go top of the Premier League at lowly Fulham.
The Reds boss yelled at his team during the first half at Craven Cottage yesterday, shouting ‘wake up’ as Bobby Decordova-Reid fired the home side in front.
Mohamed Salah’s late penalty, for a harsh handball award against Aboubakar Kamara, saw the champions salvage a point at Craven Cottage but Klopp said he felt he had to intervene.
‘If they had to wake up I don’t know but I cannot write a book and throw it on the pitch for them to read. But I wanted us to shake up the game,’ he said. ‘A good start is nice but if you don’t have it, then you start again.
‘We had half an hour pretty much to get our feet in the game and that’s why I shouted a bit at them.
After that it was better and the second half was good.’ Liverpool’s injury woes grew when Diogo Jota came off with a knee problem at Midtjylland in midweek and Klopp revealed the forward has been ruled out for six to eight weeks. ‘It’s worse than we first thought and better than we then thought,’ added Klopp. ‘All the potential surgeons had a look on it, no surgery needed.’ Meanwhile, Joel
Matip came off with a back issue ahead of Wednesday’s clash with leaders Tottenham, who are ahead of the Reds on goal difference. Klopp said: ‘Joel has a spasm in his back. We will see.’
Jose Mourinho’s Spurs were also held to a 1-1 draw yesterday as they could only manage a point at Crystal Palace, with their goalscorer Harry Kane frustrated by the result. He tweeted: ‘Gutted to only come away with a point from that but no time to dwell on it. Big game Wednesday.’