Rio Ferdinand criticises Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for comments

Add as preferred source on Google

Rio Ferdinand has told his FIVE Youtube channel that he cannot take Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s comments seriously, after the Reds boss recently bemoaned the congested fixture schedule and inability to use five substitutes.

Klopp has become renowned for complaining about the run of fixtures, combined with Liverpool’s numerous injuries that see the Reds currently suffering a centre-back crisis – as well as injuries to the likes of Thiago and Diogo Jota.

The Liverpool boss has been publicly frustrated by the decision to only allow three substitutes instead of five, and the amount of fixtures that Liverpool have been forced to play and ultimately forcing numerous injuries at Anfield.

However, Klopp then fielded a near full-strength side against Aston Villa – who used a youth team on Friday night in the FA Cup due to the pandemic. It was the perfect chance to play a weakened team, but Klopp chose not to. Ferdinand reacted.

“Wants to win the trophy,” Ferdinand said. “But you’re moaning about fixture pile-up and demands on your players, the big hitters have got to sit out. I can’t take his comments seriously. If he was that bothered, he would have sit the big-hitters out.”

TBR’s view – Ferdinand hits the nail on the head

It is a strange one. Trying to win the sympathy vote when it comes to fixture list, lack of substitutes and a horrendously long list of injuries – Klopp would surely then be using three substitutes every match and resting players when they get a chance.

But for Klopp to field a strong side that included the likes of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah is beyond belief. It makes the German manager somewhat hypocriticial, and therefore Ferdinand has got it bang on.