Jurgen Klopp hails Roy Hodgson as ‘my inspiration’ in management ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Crystal Palace… but jokes he won’t be going until 76 like the Eagles boss

Jurgen Klopp insists Roy Hodgson was an inspiration to him when he first started in management and says he couldn't respect him more. But he always asks the Crystal Palace boss why he is still in the stressful world of management at the age of 76.

Klopp's tongue-in-cheek comments came after the Palace boss came under intense scrutiny following a run of just one win in the last eight games. The Liverpool manager, who was nine when Hodgson took his first job, studied videos of Hodgson's tactics.

And ahead of Liverpool's visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday, Klopp even used the former England manager in the same sentence as visionary Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi, who won two European Cups and a Serie A during a glory era for AC Milan.

“When Roy was in Switzerland he implemented a 4-4-2, so my former manager Wolfgang Frank showed us a lot of videos of him,” Klopp said. 'It was Ariggo Sacchi and Roy Hodgson. That was the first time he crossed my path.

'I am very happy to have met him here in the Premier League because he is an excellent person and a very nice man. When I see him, I ask him: “What are you doing here?!” But he looks happy and enjoying it.

Jurgen Klopp has named Crystal Palace's Roy Hodgson as one of his managerial inspirations

He said his former coach would show him clips of Roy Hodgson and Arrigo Sacchi's teams – impressive company for the Eagles boss

The German coach also described Hodgson as a 'great guy' who he 'couldn't respect more'

'Not too happy when he loses games. But I couldn't respect him anymore. He was my inspiration… but he doesn't inspire me to stay in this job for so long! I don't know how he does that, to be honest. Great guy.'

Klopp also provided an injury update ahead of Liverpool's trip to south London, stating that Alexis Mac Allister is likely to miss the match after suffering a nasty cut to his knee following a bad tackle at Sheffield United on Wednesday evening.

But goalkeeper Alisson Becker is in line to return after missing the last two weeks with a hamstring injury suffered at Manchester City. Diogo Jota, Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic remain on the treatment table, while Joel Matip is now out for the season.

“Alisson looks good, I'm not sure if good enough for tomorrow,” Klopp said. 'Macca doesn't look good, we'll have to see. It's not that serious, but we're at that time of year where if you're away for five days, it's like twelve games!'

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson could return to the starting line-up against Palace after a hamstring injury

Klopp was less optimistic about Alexis Mac Allister after he played against Sheffield United

Matip, who tore his cruciate ligament in last weekend's win over Fulham, is likely to miss the rest of the season and will require surgery. The situation is complicated by the fact that the 32-year-old is out of contract this summer, but Klopp says the club will show his 'class'.

“I'm pretty sure the club will show their class,” he said. “I'm pretty sure they already told Joel, no matter what. He deserves all the support he gets. (New contract?) I would say so, but it's not my decision.'

Asked whether Liverpool could look to sign a defender to fill Matip's long-term absence, Klopp replied: 'Tell me a club that wants to sell a top, top, top centre-back. We've known for four or five days that Joel will be out for a long time, there are four center halves left, that doesn't matter.

'Is it perfect now? As long as we can keep up with those four, yes. As long as clubs (defenders) don't put under the Christmas tree for us… I don't know. I don't think so (signing a defender) to be honest.'