Klopp might’ve thrown £220k-a-week Liverpool player under the bus – our view

Follow us on Google Discover

Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp is one of the best man-managers in the business.

The German has enjoyed roaring success at Anfield not only because he is a fantastic tactician, with an array of world-class talent, but because the players seem to love winning for him.

Even when things are going bad, the Liverpool boss virtually never singles out individual players for criticism and that builds up a lot of trust.

But he came mighty close to throwing Virgil van Dijk under the bus during an interview with BBC Sport last night.

Speaking to the media directly after a 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, Klopp appeared to suggest that Van Dijk didn’t try as hard as James Milner to prevent Jadon Sancho’s 16th-minute opener at Old Trafford.

Immediately after the goal, the Liverpool duo were embroiled in a heated disagreement and when asked about that bickering, the Reds manager intimated that the Dutchman – who earns £220,000 per week on Merseyside – didn’t show the same effort as his more senior teammate.

He said about the duo’s arguement: “There was only one player who tried to block it, let me say it like this. I didn’t see it back but I saw that Milly tried to jump around and there was not a lot of help around.”

Klopp’s use of the words ‘let me say it like this’ indicates that he is perhaps trying to be diplomatic and not single out Van Dijk, which is paradoxical if it seems relatively obvious who he is referring to.

Van Dijk has since transformed himself into an internet meme for his attempt to block Sancho’s effort, with both hands behind his back.

Micah Richards said during the game that he couldn’t quite believe how strange it was to see a world-class figure like the Netherlands international appear so apathetic.

The good news is that he is one of the world’s finest central defenders and no doubt he’ll bounce back because, after all, Klopp is skilled enough at helping his players reach individual excellence, even if he was unhappy with the big man’s defence last night.