Dhis question caught Jürgen Klopp off guard: in the press conference after the Champions League game against Ajax Amsterdam (2-1) he was looking forward to an all-star game in the Premier League between the clubs, suggested by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was approached in the north and south of England, the 55-year-old asked with a reference to the basketball show troupe: “Does he also want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters and play against a football team?”
Boehly, who also owns shares in the Los Angeles Dodgers (baseball) and Los Angeles Lakers (basketball), envisions an American-style game between a North team and a South team. He had already presented the idea to some colleagues from the Premier League. Boehly’s plans envisage that small clubs will also benefit from the income from such a game.
“Everything was better”
Klopp, who is considered a big critic of the busy schedule, obviously rejects the move due to the number of appointments. Boehly forgets “they have four-month breaks in the big sports in America. They are happy when they can do a bit of sport. That’s something completely different in football.” So if Boehly finds an appointment for it, “he can call me,” said Klopp.
Anyway, Klopp actually had other things in mind. The relief for the coach was enormous. Liverpool FC showed the hoped-for reaction after the 4-1 “horror show” in Naples in a 2-1 win in the Champions League against Ajax Amsterdam. “If you compare Naples and tonight, you might think it wasn’t the same sport,” said the 55-year-old coach. “Everything was better. It was a first step, a very important step.”
However, it was not until the 89th minute on Tuesday evening before former Schalke Bundesliga professional Joël Matip saved the Reds from a false start in the premier class with his header. “I’ve had a few opportunities before. So it was very nice to have scored after all,” said the German-Cameroonian. However, the defender had no idea whether his powerful header landed in the net. “I honestly wasn’t sure if he was in there. But when I saw the referee, emotions ran high,” said Matip.
The Klopp team was clearly improved from the start. Mohamed Salah scored the deserved 1-0 lead (17th minute). After the equalizer by Mohammed Kudus (Klopp: “An unbelievable goal”), Liverpool deserved redemption shortly before the end. “It was very important that we showed a reaction after the horror show in Naples,” said Captain Virgil Van Dijk at DAZN. “It was a step in the right direction.”
Now there are no days waiting for Liverpool FC. Due to the state funeral after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Premier League game at Chelsea on Sunday is canceled. Due to the international break, the home game against Brighton & Hove Albion will not continue until October 1st. “Now we have a strange, rather long break,” noted Klopp. Maybe he’ll get a call from Todd Boehly around that time.