‘I’m not revolutionary’ insists Klopp over mid-season break

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is adamant he has to make a stand over the midseason break or nothing will ever change in the future.

The Reds boss has attracted criticism for announcing neither he nor his first-team players will be present for the FA Cup fourth-round replay at home to Shrewsbury next week as it falls within their scheduled Premier League hiatus. Instead the club will send out a youth team led by under-23 coach Neil Critchley.

“I have to make decisions that aren’t popular, based on the situation,” he said. “I’m not a revolutionary guy and want to show the whole world how strong I can be. That is absolutely not the reason.

“If we always react in the same way we always react – ‘We have to sort it somehow and find a way to do it’ – then nothing will change, and I think all people in football agree things have to change. The discussion now is good. I got a lot of support messagewise.”

“If people call me lazy, disrespectful to cup competitions, it is just all not true but that is not important because everyone has a right to an opinion.”

Bruno Fernandes is close to joining Manchester United after a breakthrough was made in talks with Sporting Lisbon, it is understood.

Having considered a move for the Portugal international, right, in the summer, the 25-year-old was made United’s number one target this month. The clubs have been at loggerheads over his valuation, but it is understood a deal is now close.

A fee of €55million (£46.6million) and a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons is believed to have been agreed.