“David must stay!” Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp admits he’s glad West Ham haven’t sacked Moyes…
- Jurgen Klopp, 55, admits he was alarmed to learn he was second oldest
- But since then he is now fourth after the arrival of Julen Lopetegui and Roy Hodgson
- Klopp expects a tough confrontation with a West Ham team led by 60-year-old David Moyes
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp has admitted he is desperate to see David Moyes not leave West Ham, as he would become one of the oldest managers in the Premier League.
Klopp’s Reds take on the Hammers at the London Stadium on Wednesday night, hoping to maintain their hopes of qualifying for Europe while keeping up the pressure on the relegation-battling hosts.
However, the Liverpool boss has admitted he would otherwise ‘cross his fingers’ for West Ham and hopes they don’t say goodbye to Moyes.
The 55-year-old jokingly said he would have been shocked if Moyes had left the club earlier in the season, in a tough campaign for the Hammers, to leave him as the oldest manager in the division.
“If West Ham had sacked David Moyes I would have been the oldest manager in the Premier League,” Klopp joked.
Jurgen Klopp (right) has admitted he desperately wants David Moyes (left) to stay at West Ham
The Reds boss, 55, jokingly referred to how West Ham had to keep Moyes to avoid becoming senior manager before praising the 60-year-old (Pictured together in 2018)]
‘I want to avoid that. Someone told me before the season that I was second oldest and I’ve been rooting for West Ham ever since. David must stay!
‘I have known him for seven years, he is a top colleague and does a fantastic job.
However, Klopp has since fallen to fourth oldest in the top flight, with Julen Lopetgui, 56, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in November.
While recently Roy Hodgson took charge as interim manager at Crystal Palace to become the oldest manager at 75, with Moyes, 60, now the second oldest.
Klopp was full of praise for West Ham, insisting they were in the wrong position in the Premier League due to injuries and supporting them to regain the form that made them contenders for a Champions League spot in the previous two seasons.
“If they can get through the season without major injuries, then they can play super things just like last season. We must feel uncomfortable playing against. It’s an away game and thank goodness we won one recently.
“They have a good team and have shown quality again. [This will be a] difficult game for us.’
Klopp spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the game between Liverpool and West Ham United
Roy Hodgson (centre) is now again the oldest manager in the Premier League after returning to Crystal Palace on an interim basis until the end of the season in March.
Meanwhile, Klopp has fallen to the fourth oldest manager since the start of the season, with Wolves appointing 56-year-old Julen Lopetegui in November.
West Ham are also a top, top, top team. We have to be prepared for that again. The ball will occasionally be on the ground, so we have to be ready for that.’
While Liverpool still have an outside chance of clinching a Champions League place, they are nine points behind third-placed Newcastle United, who are level with fourth-placed Manchester United after a played more matches.
The Reds will instead have their eyes on fifth for a Europa League leading spot currently held by Tottenham Hotspur in freefall.
West Ham now have daylight in their battle against relegation, with their 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday putting them six points clear of the bottom three with a game in hand.