Did Klopp’s pre-match comments incite violence?
By Laura Graves
On Sunday, Manchester City travelled to Anfield in their first Premier League clash of the season, and Klopp had some backhanded compliments for the blues.
The game that saw City lose 1-0 after a Salah counterattack and an unusual poor City performance. However, the result wasn’t the most dramatic thing that happened. Whilst we predicted drama, the level was not anticipated.
The game itself has been overshadowed by cheap jibes, horrific refereeing decisions and VAR interventions, and fans trying to get one over on each other; some of which were before the game even kicked off.
Firstly, I am going to make one point very clear! It is unacceptable and in incredibly poor taste to chant about disasters and murders. Such behaviour only disrespects the victims of such events and brings negativity to the club we love so much.
This latest battle off the field started with Klopp’s pre-match interview which stirred up a storm amongst the media and City fans. Were Klopp’s actions during that interview measured? Did he know what he was doing?
In the lead up to the game, City fans retaliated online to Klopp’s words, to the media supporting him and to Liverpool fans who supported the agendas.
Some people will take Klopp's words as bitterness or whatever, but what do they expect? It's sort of about time people in football started speaking about what is a huge problem facing the game.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 14, 2022
Klopp had remarked that “nobody can compete with City”, adding that “you have the best team in the world, and you put in the best striker on the market. No matter what is costs you just do it”.
He further stated that City and two other clubs, PSG and Newcastle, can “do what they want” financially. Ever heard of Financial Fair Play Jurgen?
Nevertheless, these comments were fuel for the media and Liverpool fans to have a pop at Manchester City and blues put their armour on and went to war.
It was a perfect storm! Klopp’s comments and stirred up Liverpool and City fans. Then poor refereeing which included a Liverpool 1-0 after Salah used his arm to bring the ball down, and as we have come to expect, was never pulled back by VAR – unlike City’s goal.
There was some unsavoury behaviour by both sets of fans at Anfield. The nasty chants by City fans in retaliation to having urine thrown on them from the stands of Liverpool fans above. Whilst Pep and the bench faced coins being thrown at them by Liverpool fans.
As a club, Manchester City rarely complain. Despite being bashed by the media and their owners trashed, the club remain dignified. However, after Liverpool condemned City fans (rightly so) for their chants at the game. City had their own issues to address.
Because as we have previously experienced, after the game was done and the dust still had not settled, and City’s team bus was targeted by Liverpool fans again.
The scenes were ugly yesterday. There have been a small number of Liverpool fans bragging online about assaulting City fans after leaving Anfield.
But the question remains, did Klopp fuel the hostility?