Look back: Roy Keane hit out at Liverpool after they lost 4-1 to Manchester City in February 2021, with the Reds ‘apologising’ and calling them ‘bad champions’. Jurgen Klopp was furious.
If Jurgen Klopp doesn’t agree, the Liverpool manager isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
Whether it’s press conferences, TV interviews, footage from inside the club or rival managers on the sidelines, the Kop boss isn’t afraid to take charge.
The same goes for Manchester United legend Roy Keane.
So when Keane faced Premier League champions Liverpool after a 4-1 defeat by Manchester City at Anfield in February 2021, nobody expected Klopp to be snubbed.
After the game, Keane gave Liverpool and Klopp his blessing on Sky Sports. He slammed the German in his defence, calling Liverpool “wicked champions” and accusing them of being fooled by their own hype.
“We spoke before the game and they made a lot of excuses,” Keane said.
“For me they were bad champions.
“We might lose a football game … but I don’t understand this group. Looking at Brighton gives me a cozy feeling even on a weekday.
You can lose a match – and there are ways to do it. But I don’t see.
“Maybe they believed the hype of the last two years. We talked about some kind of regression, but they play for a big team in Liverpool.
Living up to their own hype, they beat teams like they won the league last year and pulled off a huge upset.
“After winning the league, I think the next challenge is: ‘Can we do it again?’ I heard about this team/group in interviews and even when they won last year.
“What’s next for Liverpool?” I was not impressed with the manager.
Not.
Let’s enjoy this and that.
“It’s been a long 30-year wait, but I’ve never heard a player say, ‘I want to do it again.’ This is the key.
Now, after winning last year’s race…
they’re talking about trying to finish in the top four.
ROY KEANE
Now, where are your top four goals?
“It’s a big club.
They have to get over (Virgil van Dijk’s) setbacks.
Isn’t that part of the game?
I think it would be good if the players were always ready.
Looking at Manchester City, it’s safe to say they don’t have two best players.
“They came to Liverpool.
They have a strong team. I know they are missing two centre-backs but they still have the best strikers on the pitch.” [They] still had their best goalkeeper, they still had the national team player.
After the match, Klopp said that the goalkeeper’s feet are cold!
Klopp’s response came shortly after.
But it was not the violent reaction the Germans expected.
You won’t miss his point.
“I’m going again!” he said.
“If I don’t get to see a really good football team win a football game again, I don’t know what will happen.
It really hurts tonight, but I’m starting again.
“If we only unite when we win, there is something wrong.
we’ll go again It’s a difficult time in a difficult season.
“We saw a lot of good things tonight and we have to continue to see that.”
Maybe Klopp was right that day, not him.
Liverpool bounced back from this defeat and climbed into mid-table, sitting third in the Premier League in the 2020/21 season.
Considering where they were, that was pretty respectable.
The following season, they won two domestic cups and reached the final of the Champions League, losing to Real Madrid.
And they ended the season with two defeats in the competition.
With 92 points, they are one point behind champions Manchester City. They left “again”.
Last season was certainly disappointing, but now it looks like a new team is back in the title mix after the summer renewal.
