Jurgen Klopp should not be under pressure at Liverpool, says Phil Thompson
Saturday 23 September 2017 09:27, UK
Jurgen Klopp should not be under pressure at Liverpool, says Soccer Saturday pundit Phil Thompson.
Liverpool were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Leicester in midweek and Klopp and his side came in for some criticism after the defeat at the King Power Stadium.
That result followed home draws against Sevilla and Burnley and a 5-0 thrashing at Manchester City, but Thompson, speaking on The Debate, thinks Klopp's position at Liverpool should not be being questioned.
"There's no debate, he should not be under pressure," the former Liverpool defender said.
"I would like to think he's building a side now. I believe they are better now [than under Brendan Rodgers]. The defensive side of things has been Liverpool's Achilles heel, not just through Klopp's reign, but we had the same thing with Brendan.
"I love the way he plays," he added. "Yes, he's got his problems but at the moment I don't see anyone anywhere near Jurgen Klopp, and that's the problem. Who would Liverpool go for? Who would they bring in [to replace Klopp]?
"These people who are questioning Klopp, I'm not hearing anybody come up with a solution to it.
"There shouldn't be any debate about his position at Liverpool."
Liverpool have struggled defensively in recent weeks with lapses in concentration costing Klopp's side on numerous occasions.
Klopp targeted Virgil van Dijk to strengthen his backline in the summer, but the Reds could not strike a deal with Southampton for the Dutchman.
And once the Van Dijk deal was dead, Thompson believes Liverpool should have kept Mamadou Sakho, who left Anfield to join Crystal Palace in a £26m deal on Deadline Day.
"Liverpool's best defender at the start of the season has been allowed to leave," Thompson said.
"Sakho was our best defender. He was a warrior, a fighter and a battler and you saw it at Crystal Palace last season. He was like it at Liverpool too.
"I know there are fallings out at football clubs all the time but somewhere along the line, you can't cut off your nose to spite your face.
"Klopp should have made up with the boy. He should've banned him but then brought him back into the fold.
"They lost out on Virgil van Dijk for whatever reason but when it happened they should have kept Sakho."
