For perhaps the first time since taking charge of Liverpool last Autumn, Jurgen Klopp has woke up to intense criticism from pundits and even Reds supporters following yesterday’s 3-2 loss to Southampton.
Despite being 2-0 up at half-time, Klopp chose to substitute Dejan Lovren for Martin Skrtel – who came on and played abysmally in the second. The German also brought on Christian Benteke, but gave him an on-field telling off after the defeat was confirmed.
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On Match of the Day 2 last night, Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy said the public manner in which he went for Benteke was poor.
“I understand that he’s not his player, I don’t think he fancies him. He didn’t sign him,” the Premier League’s record goalscorer began.
“I understand all of that but I wouldn’t take too kindly if I was a player and he came on to the pitch in front of 32,000 and let his feelings be known.
“No problem if he wants to give him a telling off, or whatever it is, but do it in the dressing room, in the four walls in front of the rest of the players, not in front of all the fans.”
Former Reds midfielder Murphy backed Shearer up, claiming that while Klopp’s brilliant – he got this one wrong.
“I couldn’t agree more, If you’re going to give someone a telling off then do it inside,” he said.
“Sometimes he’s great Jurgen Klopp, he’s been a breath of fresh air but sometimes he’s overly animated on the touchline and it doesn’t always go down well with everyone.”
Benteke was pretty hapless when he came on, and it was almost as if we were playing with ten men upon his arrival.
The Belgian will now head off to international duty with Belgium, but his chances for Liverpool afterwards this term could be minimal.
Klopp clearly doesn’t rate him and with Danny Ings back soon the £32.5m summer signing could be relegated to fifth choice in the pecking order.
There were weekend rumours that Juventus are interested (via Goal), and provided they stump up a significant sum, the Serie A giants could provide him a way out.