What Jurgen Klopp did vs Brighton suggests he’s starting to lose trust in £44m Liverpool player

What Jurgen Klopp did vs Brighton suggests he’s starting to lose trust in £44m Liverpool player

their best against Brighton yesterday but still picked up an important 2-1 win.

The victory moved the Reds to the top of the Premier League table with nine games remaining. With the stakes so high, it was a tense affair at Anfield.

Without room for error, Liverpool simply had to take three points from Brighton for the first time in two years. Thankfully, with a huge amount of help from Alexis Mac Allister, they did.

Clutching onto a one-goal lead for the final 25 minutes or so, it was interesting that Jurgen Klopp chose not to use his substitutes.

The manager is usually keen to make some changes on or around the hour mark. On Sunday however, Klopp kept his starting XI on the field until the 83rd minute, when Harvey Elliott came on. Perhaps we’re reading too much into this, but we think that could spell trouble for one player in particular.

Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp withholds substitutes vs Brighton
Maybe it was just the way the game panned out in the end. But we think there was a little more in Klopp’s decision not to turn to his bench.

With a couple of players slightly out of sorts – including a very quiet showing from Darwin Nunez – you might have expected Jurgen to freshen things up.

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Ordinarily this season, whatever the score is, the German tends to bring on one or two of his attackers who didn’t start the game. With Diogo Jota injured, this role has fallen to Cody Gakpo of late.

With Gakpo earning criticism for his sluggish display off the bench against Manchester United last time out though, he stayed on the bench against Brighton.

The Dutchman did eventually enter the fray, but not until the 89th minute. Had Liverpool managed to get a third goal, we think we’d have seen Gakpo much sooner.

Consequently, we think that Klopp might just be running out of trust that the 24-year-old can make the difference. Gakpo has done well on the whole this season, but some recent showings have brought his effectiveness into question.

Does Cody Gakpo have a future at Liverpool
To some supporters, this will seem like a silly question. Gakpo is still only 24, was signed for a relatively steep fee of around £44m and has been shifting in and out of his best position this season. Of course he should be given more time.

For others though, they’ve already seen enough. Gakpo is not contributing as much as his teammates when things really matter. His 13 goals this season have largely come in games where Liverpool have been winning handsomely. Rarely does the Netherlands international make a decisive difference.

For this reason, we wouldn’t be surprised if Klopp were just faltering a little when throwing Gakpo in for the really big moments. It isn’t that he isn’t a top player, he’s already shown that he is. But when the chips are down, do you really want him on the pitch?

This may seem harsh, but it’s now on Gakpo to show why he not only deserves time on the pitch, but should be starting in the very biggest of games. Over to you, Cody.

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Jurgen Klopp says he absolutely loved what he saw Wataru Endo do on the pitch after yesterday’s win over BrightonPhoto by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp says he absolutely loved what he saw Wataru Endo do on the pitch after yesterday’s win over Brighton
Mon 1 April 2024 07:30
James Brooke
Easter Sunday had the potential to be a damaging day for Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

A tricky looking visit of Brighton got off to the worst possible start when Danny Welbeck fired the Seagulls ahead inside two minutes.

Arsenal and Manchester City – set to meet later on at the Etihad Stadium – must have been licking their lips. But from there, Liverpool resurrected themselves; Alexis Mac Allister the architect of another come-from-behind victory.

Mac Allister wasn’t alone in his excellence, mind you. The Reds midfield on the day was brilliant as a whole. Dominik Szoboszlai earned special praise from Jurgen Klopp post-game and he’d earned it.

But the manager also had some words of admiration for what he’d seen from Wataru Endo. He and Mac Allister especially have formed a wonderful partnership, and Klopp has just put that into context in his own hilarious way.

Wataru Endo
Jurgen Klopp calls for Wataru Endo movie
Part of the reason Liverpool fans are going to miss Klopp so dearly is because of his ability to deliver some quite brilliant one-liners.

The 56-year-old is a unique character. At times his persona appears to enrage opposition fans but he’ll make few apologies for it. Jurgen simply doesn’t care what anybody except Liverpool supporters think of him.

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And it’s quotes like the one he gave about Endo and Mac Allister while speaking to LFCTV yesterday that will live long in the memory.

The pair have indeed become synonymous with each other on the pitch. After the draw against Manchester City in March, Endo admitted that he and Mac Allister are ‘always looking’ for each other during games. And according to Klopp, the duo continue searching for one another after them, too.

“When I saw after the game when I went to the Kop, in front of me were Macca and Endo, they got eye contact. How they looked at each other, wow!” laughed the boss.

“You could probably easily make a 95-minute movie, a love movie about it, that was so great! They really enjoy playing with each other now.”

Endo and Mac Allister continue to click
This is a brilliant quip from Klopp that may well leave Endo and Mac Allister a little embarrassed. But it’s obvious that the two are loving being in the same team.

From Macca’s point of view, having the Japanese sitting in the No.6 role has finally allowed him to fully express himself in a Liverpool shirt.

Previously doing that job himself, Mac Allister now no longer needs to worry as much about his defensive duties. He still performs them, no doubt about that, but Endo is the man who does the heavy lifting. The benefits of that have become clear, with the World Cup winner providing eight goal contributions in his last nine games.

According to Klopp, Mac Allister simply ‘loves’ playing for Liverpool right now. Judging from Jurgen’s latest comments, there’s one teammate who’s holding his affection more than any other.

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No chance for Liverpool! Kylian Mbappe rules out Premier League transfer as striker will decide between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
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Mbappe has reportedly ruled out a move to the Premier League next summer, according to journalist Rudy Galetti. The Frenchman, who is supposed to disclose his final decision before PSG play their Champions League round of 16 match, will choose between his current club and Real Madrid. PSG have offered Mbappe a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2027.

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If the France captain decides to move away from the Ligue 1 club, they have already identified AC Milan star Rafael Leao as a possible replacement for the attacker. Manchester City and Manchester United are also keen on roping in the Portuguese winger although his €175 million (£150m/$189m) release clause could be a problem in him heading to England.

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Kevin De Bruyne leaves pitch in tears after sickening clash with Antonio Rudiger gives him black eye
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KDB WOE Kevin De Bruyne leaves pitch in tears after sickening clash with Antonio Rudiger gives him black eye
Ian Tuckey
Published: 21:31, 29 May 2021Updated: 22:10, 29 May 2021
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KEVIN DE BRUYNE was in tears as a black eye ended his Champions League final after a grim clash with Antonio Rudiger in Chelsea’s 1-0 win.

Star playmaker KDB soon headed down the tunnel after being helped off and replaced by Gabriel Jesus on the hour in Porto.

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Man City boss Pep Guardiola tries to console injury victim Kevin De BruyneCredit: Getty
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Players on both sides show immediate concern after Man City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger slump after collidingCredit: Reuters
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De Bruyne’s eye soon blackened after the painful thudCredit: pixel8000
The midfielder departed gingerly and stooped over seemingly in pain and despair as boss Pep Guardiola consoled him.

Chelsea were deservedly holding onto Kai Havertz’s 42nd counter-attacking finish, following Mason Mount’s delightful through-pass.

And City’s mood dipped even further when KDB was the victim of a heavy challenge from Rudiger that earned the Germany centre-back a booking.

City’s medical staff dashed on, while team-mate Kyle Walker remained kneeling beside De Bruyne throughout the time the Belgian was down being treated.

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The way KDB kept his head down as City officials put their hands around him, and especially the fact he then went down the tunnel, sparked early Euro 2020 fitness fears.

Fans on social media were gutted for De Bruyne, although some suggested his display had been well below par.

And City’s anguish was confirmed as Stamford Bridge chief Thomas Tuchel’s masterly tactics kept them out, including for seven minutes of stoppage time.

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City’s medical staff show their concern as they check De Bruyne’s conditionCredit: AFP
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That gave Chelsea their second Champions League final success, with City yet to scoop Europe’s top domestic prize in football.

And it meant an anguished swansong for City record scorer Sergio Aguero.

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The Argentina striker came on for the last 13 minutes in a vain bid to conjure both an equaliser and the perfect finale to his 10-year City career.

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Man City’s Walker faces disciplinary action for breaking lockdown rules
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Champions League – Round of 16 First Leg – Real Madrid v Manchester City – Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – February 26, 2020 Manchester City’s Kyle Walker reacts [REUTERS/Susana Vera]
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker faces disciplinary action from the Premier League champions after tabloid the Sun said he breached Britain’s lockdown rules by hosting a party during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sun said England international Walker, 29, had also invited two call girls to the party at his Cheshire home last week, shortly before he had urged people on Twitter to follow government guidelines on social distancing.

Walker apologised for his actions in a statement to the newspaper on Sunday, saying he had let down his family, friends, club, supporters and the public.
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“Manchester City FC are aware of a story in a tabloid newspaper regarding the private life of Kyle Walker in relation to a breach of the UK lockdown and social distancing rules,” City said in a statement released to British media.

“Footballers are global role models, and our staff and players have been working to support the incredible efforts of the National Health Service and other key workers in fighting the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in any way we can.

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“Kyle’s actions in this matter have directly contravened these efforts. We are disappointed to hear the allegations, note Kyle’s swift statement and apology, and will be conducting an internal disciplinary procedure in the coming days.”

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