JURGEN KLOPP took over as Liverpool manager five years ago this month and has featured in more than 500 press conferences.
But at no stage has the German been anywhere near as angry as he was last night.
Klopp was absolutely bloody furious. With everybody.
He aimed his rocket launcher at Everton. Jordan Pickford, shots fired. Referee Michael Oliver, slammed.
VAR and the journalists who asked him questions about the state of his injury-ravaged team got it, too – even Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher did not escape.
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Klopp was sat in the media room at Ajax’s stadium ahead of tonight’s Champions League opener, answering questions via the internet.
The wounds were clearly raw following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Everton.
Star defender Virgil van Dijk and new-boy Thiago Alcantara were injured following clashes with keeper Jordan Pickford and Richarlison respectively. The latter was, at least, red carded.
Klopp said: “Both challenges were difficult to accept. Injuries happen very often — but often when both players try to play the ball.
“And this was not the case in these two, which makes it so difficult to take.
“In the last four years, we led the fair play table. It means you can play football without these type of challenges.
“In this game, a few things came together. We lost Virgil who is such an important player.
“Michael is an excellent ref usually but why he does not see it, I do not understand. Then VAR forgets the rules.”
Clearly spitting mad that Pickford avoided a red card or retrospective action, Klopp added: “It is not that I want players punished… but if you do something wrong, you have to deal with the consequences.
“At this moment only one person — sorry, two people — deal with the consequences and that is Virgil and Thiago.
“Our players are the ones who suffer and it does not feel right.”
Klopp will be without both Van Dijk (ACL) and Joel Matip (muscle problem) so will start with Joe Gomez and midfielder Fabinho in central defence.
With Dejan Lovren also leaving in the summer, Klopp snapped when asked if three centre-backs was enough cover.
Klopp said: “Is anyone interested in the game tomorrow? Yes, we went into the season with three centre-halves and Fabinho, plus kids as cover.
“That’s normally quite a good number. It is difficult to have four world-class centre-halves.
“On one side it is expensive and on the other side, one will not play for a long time.
“It is not a position you can rotate. If anyone wants to tell us we made a mistake in the transfer window… Jamie Carragher also mentioned this.
“There are two reasons why they don’t do this job and do another job, you cannot have solutions before the problems. Matip is not here and that is not perfect. We will see how we react.
“We are still sensitive with the situation and you are not. That is why we are in a completely different mood to you.
“The first question is, ‘What are you doing in the transfer market?’ We’ve known since yesterday our vice-captain and the best centre-half in the world will not play for a long time. For now, I will try to find solutions.”
Now looking ready for a punch-up, Klopp did not take kindly to being asked whether Liverpool had a chance against Ajax without his crocked pair.
Sarcastically, the German said: “No”. He continued: “Oh my God. We will still try. Are you a journalist? We will still give it a try.”
You wonder whether Liverpool will be in the correct frame of mind for a difficult opener.
Liverpool are also missing keeper Alisson (shoulder) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee).
Klopp added: “Three weeks ago, they said we’d run away and three weeks later, we are not in contention for anything anymore. That is football, now.
“But I am not interested in proving you wrong. Hopefully, the results in the next few weeks will help calm you down — but I cannot promise that.”
