Business Day

Keane s comment has Klopp in a froth

- Simon Evans Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hit back at television pundit and former Manchester United captain Roy Keane on Tuesday after the Irishman described the Premier League champions defending in a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Monday as sloppy

Liverpool have won all three of their league games so far this season, beating visiting Leeds United 4-3 and winning 2-0 at Chelsea, but while praising Klopp s side Keane said they had

shown the ability to win while not being perfect in defending.

Strangely enough if you look at Liverpool, they have been sloppy against Leeds, OK done well against Chelsea, sloppy again tonight, but they have got nine points, maximum points, so they will know they need to improve,” noted Keane.

It looks like they are capable

of winning football matches without being at their best, and that is a sign of a good team.”

But Klopp pounced Keane s comments.

Did I hear it right, that Mr

Keane said it was a sloppy performanc­e tonight?” asked the German coach as he began a post-match interview with Sky Sports. I could hear you already,

did he say that?”

After Keane attempted to explain his remarks, Klopp continued. I just wanted to hear it.

I m not sure I heard it right, maybe he was speaking about another game it cannot be this

game, sorry!

That is an incredible descriptio­n of this game, that was absolutely exceptiona­l. Nothing was sloppy, absolutely nothing,” said Klopp, to the delight of Liverpool fans on social media, who relished the strong riposte to an old rival.

Alisson had to make one save, they had two balls in behind, you cannot avoid that. You need a goalie in these situations. Apart from that, the footon

ball we played was absolutely exceptiona­l tonight,” added Klopp. About this game tonight,

“there is nothing bad to say. It was the opposite of sloppy.”

Arsenal had taken the lead through Alexandre Lacazette after a poor miscontrol from Andy Robertson in his own area and the French striker could have equalised in the second half when he was one-on-one against Alisson.

Keane, known as a tough tackling player and tough talking pundit, appeared amused by

Klopp s reaction. Very sensitive.

’ “

Imagine if he d lost?” he said.

At the same time Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Liverpool are the best side the Premier League has seen for years but their success did not come overnight and Arsenal have lots of work to do to reach those standards.

Klopp took over at Anfield for the 2015-2016 season and has steadily improved the side, delivering the Champions League in 2018-2019 followed by the long-awaited English league title last season.

Arteta has enjoyed some success since his appointmen­t last season with Arsenal winning the FA Cup, but Monday s

defeat showed the gulf in class between the sides.

We are in a different journey to Liverpool. They ve been

together for five years and they weren t able to do what they

have done tonight two or three years ago, that s for sure,” he

said.

 ??  ?? Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa