Klopp defends Old Trafford counterpart from pundit Agbonlahor’s ‘unbelievable’ criticism

JURGEN KLOPP has aimed a broadside at former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor following the radio pundit’s call for Erik ten Hag to quit after Manchester United’s 4-0 humiliation at Brentford. The Liverpool manager claimed he nearly called talkSPORT to complain after listening to Agbonlahor’s criticism as he drove home from training last Saturday evening. Agbonlahor said: ‘If I was them now after this game I’d be thinking, “You know what, Ten Hag, just pack up”. He’s had pre-season and they have started the season as a shambles, they’re like strangers on the pitch.’

But Klopp reminded Agbonlahor he was in the Villa team beaten 6-0 by Liverpool at Villa Park in February 2016 and questioned his mentality that day — he was substituted after 58 minutes and Villa were relegated at the end of the season.

‘What he said about United, I was close to calling in and telling him, “you have forgotten completely that you have been a player”,’ said Klopp.

‘He lost against us 6-0 in my first year (at Liverpool). I couldn’t remember him as a “mentality monster” on the pitch. It was unbelievable (what he said). If ex-players are going already like this, you can imagine how everything else is going.’ Agbonlahor (right) responded to Klopp’s remarks by tweeting a picture of when he scored the only goal in Villa’s 1-0 win at Anfield in September 2014. Despite United’s nightmare start, Klopp is wary of a backlash when Liverpool go to Old Trafford on Monday — when a first win for Ten Hag would lift them above the Merseyside club in the Premier League table.

He does not believe Liverpool’s thumping wins last season over their historic rivals — 5-0 at Old Trafford followed by 4-0 at Anfield — will have any bearing on this contest.

And he insists he would have preferred it if United were going into the game after a 5-0 win rather than their sorry capitulation in London.

‘Just ask yourself how would you want to react in a situation like that and you would, of course,

fight back and that is what we expect,’ he added.

‘When we had the two results last season I knew it would not help this time. I couldn’t be less interested in the results from last season. It helps United to be more motivated.

‘This is a completely different game in a completely different situation. United can change nothing or everything, so it’s tricky preparation-wise. It’s early and we don’t have a lot of info. It’s tough, United away will never be easy.

‘I’d prefer to play them after they win 5-0 but it isn’t dreamland.

‘We have drawn twice too, so is it better to play us? I don’t know. Let’s see how these heavyweights deal with it.’ Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is set for a recall in place of Nat Phillips, while Roberto Firmino is fit again and could replace the suspended Darwin Nunez.