Before it becomes too much for Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool coach wanted to make nothing more of it. In May last year, his team’s game at Manchester United was canceled at short notice because fans of Liverpool’s rivals burst into the stadium hours before kick-off and set off pyrotechnics on the pitch, among other things. This had little to do with Liverpool; the protest was directed against the Glazer family, who own many Manchester United supporters, and would rather get rid of them today than tomorrow.
At the time, Liverpool drove back the nearly 40 miles west on the M62 motorway without having achieved anything. A week and a half later, the game was rescheduled in the already jam-packed English football calendar, much to Klopp’s displeasure. When protests from Manchester United fans were announced again before the duel on Monday evening, the coach picked up the ball directly.
“Incredibly busy season”
“I really hope it won’t happen. But if it happens, we should get the points,” said the German, who had often complained about the tight schedule. The situation in the leagues is even worse this time due to the World Cup in Qatar in winter.
“If the fans don’t want the game to happen, then we can’t just rearrange the game and put it somewhere in an incredibly busy season,” said Klopp. “In such a situation, the other team should always get the points because they have nothing to do with it and have prepared for it. We have nothing to do with it.”
There were protests around Old Trafford stadium on Monday evening. This time, however, the police, who were present in large numbers, were better prepared than a year ago. There were chants and banners, but no lunges. The game took place accordingly – and Klopp didn’t get any points, not even one.
Liverpool lost 2-1 and sit 16th in the Premier League after three games without a win on just two points. That’s unfamiliar – and alarming – for a side used to playing for the title.
“If it rains, you have to get out”
Although there are still 35 games to play and 105 points to be awarded, the alarm bells are already ringing. Because titles are not won in late summer, but you can definitely lose them. Klopp knows that too. He’s not aiming for a beauty prize, he’s currently only interested in the yield, which is clearly too measly.
“At the moment only one thing counts for us – the result. That’s what hurts the most today,” he said after the first defeat of the season on Sky TV. “It’s not the easiest situation ever. But if it rains, you have to go outside too.”
Some important players at Liverpool FC are also out at the moment, especially in midfield. The former Munich Thiago, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the former Leipzig Naby Keita, about whom there have recently been rumors of a change, are injured. Defenders Ibrahima Kanote, Joel Matip and attacker Diogo Jota were also absent in Manchester.
However, Klopp initially voluntarily renounced Fabinho. The Brazilian had not impressed in the first two league games of the season, but his place on the bench came as a surprise as he is responsible for balancing Liverpool’s game.
