Two games, no win: Liverpool are not gaining momentum in the English Premier League and have not won their second game either. Coach Jürgen Klopp’s team couldn’t get past a 1-1 (0-1) draw against Crystal Palace in their own stadium on Monday evening.
At the start there was a 2-2 win at Fulham for the title co-favourite. The runners-up are now four points behind Manchester City. The champions started the season with two wins.
At Liverpool’s Anfield Road, the guests came up with the first shot on goal for the surprising opening goal. Wilfried Zaha (32nd) was allowed to celebrate after a counterattack. Newcomer Darwin Núñez (45th) hit the post for the highly superior Liverpool.
After the change, the Reds were outnumbered, Núñez (57) saw a red card after a headbutt in the penalty area against Christian Andersen, the Dane got away with a yellow card. Liverpool then equalized a little later: Luis Diaz (61st) scored after a solo and caused celebrations. But it was no longer enough for the first win of the season in the Premier League.
In a dispute with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, Klopp had previously pointed out the ever-growing burden on the best football professionals. “There’s only one direction this is going, and that’s against the wall,” Klopp said in a “kicker” interview (Monday). There is no one who really speaks for the players. When he addresses the lack of breaks for the players, “Aleksander Ceferin comes out of the corner and makes a polemical statement that other people have to work a lot more. I know that, Mr. Ceferin doesn’t have to tell me that,” said Klopp.
He knows what work means. “I don’t want to offend anyone, I just want to point out again that this game doesn’t work without the players and is only really nice when the best are on the field,” said the 55-year-old Liverpool coach. But the top stars shouldn’t have to be on the pitch every three days because then there’s no more time for training.
The various leagues and associations would not think of the players. “New tournaments are always being invented. Now we’re making the World Cup bigger so that other teams can also take part. We’re also making the EM bigger, amazing,” said Klopp.
The former Bundesliga coach accepts headwind for his criticism. “If in the end I’m the only one who says something, then so be it. I don’t care. I can’t be everyone’s friend,” said Klopp.
