Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a shock move for Southampton’s seldom-seen Premier League goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Jurgen Klopp wasn’t too happy with Fraser Forster in May 2017.
The affable German is something of an old-school romantic, a coach who believes our beautiful game is about more than cold hard statistics and an obsession with eking out results at all costs.
And Klopp couldn’t help but take Umbridge with Forster’s attempts to put off James Milner as the Liverpool midfielder prepared to take a penalty during a Premier League clash against Southampton two years ago.
The Saints’ keeper used every inch of his 6ft 7ins frame to loom over Milner as he placed the ball on the spot, digging up the turf with a subtle flick of his boot while attempting to intimidate Liverpool’s Mr Reliable.
It worked too. For the first time in nine years, Milner missed from the spot as Forster leapt to his right and turned the ball behind. And Klopp was far from happy, taking issue with the goalkeeper’s time wasting as well as his disturbance tactics.
“You saw what they did. On one side you say it is very smart because [Milner] missed and on the other not sportsmanship,” bemoaned Klopp, in quotes reported by The Independent.
“With the time delay, I don’t know how long Forster needed for his kicks, four minutes, that is ambitious. But I have nothing to do with it. Whatever I say we look like bad losers.”
Ironically enough, The Mail is now reporting that Forster is a target for Liverpool as Klopp scours the market for a goalkeeper capable of providing competition for Alisson Becker and Simon Mignolet.
The 31-year-old has gone from Southampton’s undisputed first-choice to the forgotten man of St Mary’s, making just one Premier League appearance since Boxing Day 2017.
And should a shock move to Anfield materialise, don’t be surprised if Klopp attempts to tone down Forster’s tendency to embrace the dark arts of the game.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
