Klopp calls for better protection for keepers before Burnley clash
Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, wants more protection for goalkeepers following two contentious goals on the opening Premier League weekend.
Klopp took the unusual step of inviting journalists’ opinion on the validity of goals scored by Brentford’s Christian Norgaard in his side’s 2-0 victory over Arsenal, and Burnley’s James Tarkowski in the 3-2 home defeat by Brighton and Hove Albion.
“Do you remember the goal scored versus Arsenal from the throw-in? Was it a foul or not?” Klopp asked. “The Burnley goal? A foul or not? I really want to learn. Was it a foul?”
The Liverpool manager went on to say that goalkeepers should not be impeded in the six-yard area like they were last weekend.
“It is a football question,” he said. “Two goals and both times people go for the goalie in the six-yard box. It is interesting.
“There is a rule that the keeper has to be protected in the six-yard box. If people say the keeper is overprotected, that’s a different view. I just say there is space for discussion and it will be interesting this season because the poor guy is the guy in the goal, and if he is not protected any more in the six-yard box it is a different game.
“On Thursday, with the Premier League, we had a situation with a meeting with the referees, and both goals from the referees’ point of view were legal goals. We need clarification for these kinds of things.
“With the goal against Arsenal, some people think the goalkeeper is over-protected. For all football people, it is a clear foul on [Bernd] Leno, but not for the referees.
“It is something we have to know because what is the goalie supposed to do? Take the player? Where can he go?”
Liverpool face Burnley at Anfield today, and Klopp is no doubt anticipating a similar set-piece strategy from Sean Dyche’s side.
“I thought the goalie would be protected differently to other players in the six-yard box,” Klopp said. “That’s how it is. That is the rule. That is why the six-yard box is there. That is the goalie’s area.”