Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was not impressed with questions from Sky Sports journalist Geoff Shreeves following his side’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester City on Thursday night.
The Reds were crowned Premier League champions before they took to the field at the Etihad Stadium, and received a guard of honour from last year’s winners before kick-off.
Klopp’s team approached the game in the standard manner but found themselves on the end of some clinical attacking play from the Citizens. Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and an own goal by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain condemned Liverpool to their second league defeat of the season.
After the full-time whistle, the German tactician was annoyed by questions which suggested that his side’s attitude was not quite right as they won their first league title in 30 years the week beforehand.
Writing for The Athletic, James Pearce explained why Klopp was justified to get irritated with Shreeves.
Was Jurgen Klopp right to be frustrated after the City defeat?
Yes
No
“The question hit a nerve for several reasons”, he said.
“For a start, Klopp’s mind is racing after a game, especially a defeat. It’s the reason why he rarely speaks to the players in any detail in the dressing room post-match.
“He prefers to wait until his emotions are in check, he has analysed proceedings and he can give a more considered verdict at Melwood the following day.
“Klopp wasn’t about to reel off the openings Liverpool had wasted, and not just because he couldn’t immediately recall them all.”
To suggest or hint that Klopp had no interest in winning this game would be greatly false and wide of the mark. Liverpool had chances in this game and had a lot of possession, which could have swung the tie in the visitors’ favour.
However, the quality of the finishing from City confirmed that it wasn’t to be a pleasant evening for the Reds.
Klopp will ensure that a repeat of this performance will not be tolerated. Whether Liverpool will take the records as seriously as Manchester City did during the 2017/18 campaign, is yet to be seen.