Everton fans have taken to Twitter to hit back at Jürgen Klopp’s comments about Rui Patricio, following Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Wolves.
After the 90-cap Portugal international suffered a worrying head injury at Molineux, the BBC quote the German as saying: “It’s unfortunate. In contact sport it happens time to time. I’m more relaxed because the first impression is it’s not serious. We wish him all the best. It should not happen, but it can happen”.
While those comments felt genuine and surely were, some Everton fans have labelled Klopp a ‘hypocrite’ as he didn’t have the same outlook when Jordan Pickford injured Virgil van Dijk in October.
After his colossal Dutchman was badly injured by a wild Pickford lunge, Klopp said: “This is a very long, long-term injury so it was still, I have to say, a crazy challenge which I still don’t understand. We are all human beings and of course it was not nice.”
Of course, you can understand why Klopp’s views were different in that moment, as his most important player’s knee was badly damaged.
However, Everton fans are right – he can’t adopt one approach for one incident, but another when his own player is concerned.
Football is a contact sport, and injuries are likely to happen at times.
Klopp’s view on Patricio is fine, but he should also have had the same outlook after Van Dijk’s injury.
Of course, the Everton fans should probably be mindful of the emotion running high after that 2-2 draw.
Thiago was also on the end of a crunching Richarlison tackle, while Jordan Henderson’s late winner was ruled out by the finest of margins.
In that respect, you can see why Klopp may have felt slightly heated after full-time.
Anyway, Everton fans still make a good point – let’s see what they’ve been saying about the Liverpool manager’s comments…
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