‘I heard’: Roy Keane hits back at Liverpool man’s claims and Bruno Fernandes complaints

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Roy Keane hit back at Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Sky Sports (22/08/21 at 7:20 pm) for complaining about the Premier League’s new rules to challenges.

After Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Burnley on Saturday, Klopp claimed that the changes are more suited to ‘wrestling’, as he wasn’t happy with the challenges from the Burnley players, as he told Sky Sports.

Then on Sunday, when Manchester United recorded a 1-1 draw at Southampton, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also weighed in on the topic by saying ‘we have gone from one extreme to another’, as he told BBC Sport.

In the lead up to Southampton opening the scoring yesterday, Bruno Fernandes was complaining about being fouled, but the on-field referee allowed the game to flow, as per the rules changes, and the goal stood.

But following the complaints from both Liverpool and Manchester United camps about the game seemingly becoming too hard-hitting again, Keane in his own typical way wasn’t having any of it.

“We all said that ‘we all love the physical side of the game’,” said Keane. “I heard Klopp complaining yesterday about the game.

“But I don’t think it’s a foul. I think Fernandes has to do better (in the build-up to Southampton’s goal). When you are playing against the better teams, you do have to be physical.

“You have to close teams down. If you don’t then they have the quality to hurt you, so I would disagree with that.

“Again, we heard Klopp yesterday talk about Burnley. They are a pretty honest team. You have to be physical. That’s part of the game I love. I would have no problem with that goal (Southampton’s).”

It wouldn’t be a surprise if this is a tactic from the so-called bigger boys to change the rules to suit them again.

Whilst those near the top can spend the millions, the likes of Burnley can’t afford to do that, so there is going to be an obvious gulf in quality.

One way they can close that gap is by making life more difficult for the opposition, with their aggressive style and no-nonsense ways.

It’s a welcome rule change and one that will now see the so-called softer challenges not be rewarded with fouls, and in turn, allow the game to flow.