LET’S GET PHYSICAL

Pope hits back at boss Klopp and blasts antics last season a ‘disgrace’

NICK POPE has hit back at Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool boss accused Burnley of WRESTLING his players during last weekend’s 2-0 win.

The Clarets goalkeeper rejected any suggestion from the German coach (below) that he and his team-mates were too physical at Anfield.

And he welcomed a new willingness from referees this season to allow games to flow, describing as “a disgrace” some of the play-acting seen in the last campaign.

Pope said: “We were all surprised last Saturday by the comments afterwards.

“It was not a massively dirty game. We didn’t have any bookings, so it was a bit of a strange one.

“We’re a competitive team but haven’t had a red card in over 90 games. We’re fair, not massively over the top.

“Maybe we’re a bit different to some teams nowadays, but we don’t do

Pope slams players who try to get soft fouls anything untoward. It’s just part of us. So the comments were a bit strange.

“The league have come out and said they want to see fewer soft fouls, fewer soft pens. That’s something the fans want, too, and it’s good for the game worldwide.

“Some of the play-acting last year was a bit of a disgrace and the fact there was no crowd emphasised that. “You could hear the screams and then 15 seconds later lads were up running around – that didn’t sit well with many people. That will improve this year.”

After injury heartbreak denied him a place in the England squad for the Euros, Pope was forced to watch their journey to the final from the stands alongside his dad, David.

He admits to having mixed feelings after missing out in such cruel fashion, and said: “It was difficult but obviously I still wanted England to do well.

“I know the majority of the squad, and the manager had been really good to me so I wanted him to do really well. It was difficult to watch but I watched every minute, and always wanted the group to be successful.”

Now after being named in Gareth Southgate’s latest squad this week, the obvious target for Pope, 29, is to claim a place on the plane to the 2022 World Cup.

But he will not settle for just making up the numbers in Qatar, with Jordan Pickford’s No.1 jersey still in his sights.

He added: “Having missed out on the Euros gives me more hunger, especially with the World Cup only a year and a few months away.

“I don’t want to miss that experience again – I’d be unambitious to write everything off now and to say, ‘Look I’m definitely not going to play at the World Cup.’

“If I didn’t want to pursue that and have it as a target, that would not really show a great deal of desire.

“At the same time, I am realistic, knowing that Jordan is there off the back of two really good tournaments now and putting in good performances for Everton as well.

“Ideally, I want to improve my own game and show that I am good enough to play at the World Cup as well.”