Is Jurgen Klopp SCARED of the early kick-off curse? Liverpool manager fumes at being selected for two lunchtime slots following international breaks after failing to win ANY of their six 12:30 games last season
- Liverpool’s first game back from the international break is against Wolves
- Jürgen Klopp’s side failed to win a single match last season at 12.30
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast ‘It all begins!’
Jürgen Klopp complained about his team’s schedule during a press conference on Friday, with his team playing one draw against Saturday at 12.30 pm.
After a disappointing campaign last season, his side have started the 2023/2024 season well, winning three and drawing one of their first four Premier League games.
Mohamed Salah, who has been linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia, made a particularly good impression with two goals and as many assists, but Klopp insisted he was not concerned about his talisman’s departure in January.
As well as answering questions about the summer departure of his former captain Jordan Henderson, Klopp was quizzed about his side’s poor record during the 12.30 kick-off.
However, judging by his reaction, it was a touchy subject for the German boss, who failed to win any of his six 12.30 matches last season.
Jurgen Klopp was quizzed at 12.30pm about his side’s poor record before Wolves stumbled
The Reds lost to newly promoted Nottingham Forest in October 2022 while they were struggling
They were also defeated by Bournemouth in March, a result which dented their top four ambitions
“Are you serious about this question?” he responded when initially asked if his party had any problems in this particular slot.
He added: “What do you mean what’s the difference when you play in Bolivia 30 hours ago? What do you think the reason is, I don’t understand.
‘Is it a matter of time or of the lack of recovery in between? If you have a normal week, that’s no problem, that’s what we’ve always said. The only problem is the lack of recovery time.
‘We have four international breaks until March, and on two of them the kick-off is at 12.30. If I say one word about it again, the whole world will say, “He’s starting to moan again,” but it’s a joke – we have players in South America who I haven’t seen yet and we’re playing in 24 hours. It is a joke.
‘We’re never going to change that, but it doesn’t change anything at all. They just don’t care (inaudible) about that, so why should we talk about it?
‘The moment someone like you makes me feel, as I’m sitting there, “What exactly is the problem, is it 12:30 because it’s lunch time?” Or could it be like the time between matches and the intensity of the to travel?” Give your own opinion about it, but perhaps without a source.’
In total, his team lost three of those games last season, drawing the other three, while two came at home.
Liverpool stars were in action around the world, with Alexis Mac Allister (pictured) playing in Bolivia
His team was in the hands of Fulham (A), Everton (A) and Chelsea (H), but lost to Nottingham Forest (A), Bournemouth (A) and Manchester City (A).
His side have been invited to play in two kick-offs at 12.30pm on the Saturday immediately after the international break before March. They will also feature in two more such games in the same period.
Although his side dominate the head-to-head record against Wolves in their history, with 59 wins to Molineux’s 39, it has been a more evenly matched battle in recent years, despite the gap in budgets and personnel.
Last season the two sides met four times in three months, with the Reds winning twice, once in the league and once in the FA Cup third round replay after a 1-1 draw in the first round, while Wolves came out on top in a 3-round match. -0 league win in Molineux.