Liverpool FC is also struggling with a Corona outbreak. Nevertheless, Jürgen Klopp is sceptical about a discussed Premier League interruption.
Jürgen Klopp knows all too well by now what matters during the turbulent run-up to and after Christmas in the Premier League. And that’s why he was perfectly comfortable with Thursday night’s largely lacklustre 3-1 home win over destructive second-bottom Newcastle United.
“That we fly through all the games here is unlikely,” the Liverpool FC coach said afterwards on the “Sky” microphone. “You have to fight through that, that’s what we did. It would have been ridiculous if we hadn’t pushed through.” Mo Salah & Co. had ultimately missed many chances for a clearer win.
Van Dijk, Fabinho, Jones – who else?
On Sunday it goes on for Klopp’s team at Tottenham Hotspur – maybe anyway: the fact that this match is currently one of the five that have not yet been cancelled at the weekend does not have to remain so, given the increasingly dramatic omicron situation on the island.
Liverpool FC had also been informed shortly before the Newcastle game about a trio in the squad – 100 per cent double-vaccinated, according to Klopp – who had “suspected” to have tested positive. “It came as a complete surprise this morning,” said Klopp, who does not expect Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones to be the only ones infected.
Klopp on Frank’s proposal: “Where is the added value? “
“We will see how many cases we have tomorrow. It’s rather out of the question that it starts with three and stays with three,” the coach explained, once again promoting vaccination. “If nobody was vaccinated, people would die like flies. Just because so many are vaccinated, some people have the freedom not to be vaccinated. It’s just difficult.”
Thomas Frank, coach of promoted Brentford, which has been hit even harder by Corona, had so far suggested, to no avail, that the upcoming Premier League fixture and League Cup quarter-finals be cancelled en bloc just before Christmas. Klopp is sceptical whether that would be an appropriate measure. “Sure it would help,” he did say, “only then we come out and have the same thing again. Where is the added value? I can’t see that.”
Especially as it will be difficult enough to find make-up dates for the many cancelled matches. “We just don’t have a winter break here,” Klopp said, summing up the tricky situation: “Questions many, solutions not so insane. “
