LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has suggested that some supporters should give up their tickets for their upcoming clash with Arsenal after last night’s flat atmosphere.
The Reds thrashed West Ham 5-1 to secure a Carabao Cup semi-final showdown with Fulham.
Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and a Curtis Jones brace were all on the scoresheet in the club’s biggest win of the season.
However, their manager could not resist taking a shot at the noise created by the crowd in attendance – despite it being just the second time there were 57,000 people in Anfield since the opening of their new stand.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville had initially criticised the Liverpool crowd after Sunday’s goalless draw with the Red Devils, saying: “The atmosphere was the worst I’ve seen at Anfield ever.
“I’ve always been complimentary of Liverpool fans. It’s the biggest crowd they’ve had here in 60 or 70 years but it’s the quietest crowd I’ve seen in this game.”
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And ahead of Saturday’s top of the table Premier League showdown with Arsenal, Klopp was no more complimentary following the win over the Hammers.
He said: “In the first half, when the boys played exceptionally, I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me.
“I asked people: ‘What do they want?’ We changed a lot of things and we dominated West Ham like crazy and missed chances. If I was in the stands, I would be on my toes, 1,000 per cent.
“I don’t know if the Man United game was that bad that we have to say sorry we didn’t smash them?
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“We need Anfield on Saturday. Arsenal didn’t play this week. Anyone who knows anything about them knows they will be prepared, so we need Anfield on their toes from the first second, without me having an argument with the opposition coach.
“If it is too much football in December, if you are not in the right shape, give your ticket to somebody else.”
After Klopp’s remarks, many believed they were a deliberate plot by the Kop boss to whip the crowd into frenzy for the crunch clash.
But Neville could not resist poking more fun on social media as he shared footage of the German’s press conference and tagged it: “Those Liverpool fans having a pop at me about the atmosphere v United are a bit quiet this morning.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
