Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Football, Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp
Chris Byfield
Jurgen Klopp was given two reasons to leave Liverpool.
The Reds boss stunned the football world on Friday by announcing he was to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years in charge.
Klopp’s time at Liverpool has seen him win the Champions League, as well as the Reds’ first Premier League title in 30 years in 2019/2020. However, the German said he is to leave, having "run out of energy".
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"I told the club already in November," said the 56-year-old, who has announced his decision with Liverpool top of the Premier League and through to the Carabao Cup final.
"I can understand that it's a shock for a lot of people in this moment when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it - or at least try to explain it.
"I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
"It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again."
Several incidents over the past year may have contributed to Klopp becoming more jaded.
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Of course, earlier this season VAR wrongly disallowed a Liverpool goal at Tottenham. Luis Diaz’s goal was ruled out for offside and the match restarted, despite replays clearly showing Tottenham defender Cristian Romero playing the Reds attacker onside.
While the PGMOL immediately apologised for the “significant human error” in which VAR failed to overrule the officials’ on‑field decision, the incident led to further disillusionment towards officials from across the game.
Another aspect of the game known to have frustrated Klopp was the Premier League’s scheduling, in particular 12:30 kick-offs.
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The Liverpool manager once said he preferred to play matches “at a normal time, and not at breakfast”. Klopp’s ire was raised once again for the Red’s trip to Manchester City earlier this season after the game was moved to a 12.30pm start, giving several players limited time to recover from the international break.
“These two teams could have, all together, about 30 international players,” Klopp complained before the international break began.