The Reds’ season hit a new low on Saturday at Brighton, but the manager still has the support of the team and the supporters.
Without even attempting to dress it up, Jurgen Klopp. Why could he?
The Liverpool manager has had a perplexing season, and the latest horror show for his team—a 3-0 loss at Brighton that was as abject and lopsided as the score indicates—left him scratching his head at the news conference following the game.
I honestly can’t recall a worse game, he remarked, adding that he wasn’t sure if it was because the game had just ended. “And I mean throughout my entire [career], not only at Liverpool,”
There aren’t many people who attended the Amex Stadium on Saturday who would disagree, but defeats at Watford in 2015 and 2020, the 7-2 thrashing at Aston Villa a few years ago, or any of the six straight losses at Anfield during the “pandemic season” could come close.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Klopp made a point of complimenting Liverpool’s fans after the win. He is aware of his current need for them.
When his team, led by Harvey Elliott and Andy Robertson, made their way to apologize to them at the final whistle, the away end was unusual for being only partially full.
Some players, like Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita, chose not to bother and walked straight through the tunnel. As Alisson Becker’s name was being sung, Robertson hid his face in dejection.
To be fair, the Brazilian was held above the criticism leveled at the rest of his teammates on the South Coast.
With his hands clasped and his head bowed, Klopp apologized to those who had traveled from Merseyside for the 10-hour roundtrip.
He later remarked, “They were amazing, to be honest.” They demonstrated that they are genuine supporters by realizing that it wasn’t our day.
For residents of Liverpool, it has been a matter of feast or famine. The excitement of the previous season, when they followed their side to the edge of history, is now a distant memory.
In the Premier League, Klopp’s team is ninth, behind Fulham, Brighton, and Brentford, and much nearer the bottom of the standings than the top.
