The odds on Jurgen Klopp to become the next Premier League manager sacked have slashed dramatically following Liverpool’s shock 4-1 defeat to Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The odds were 66/1 prior to kick-off but then became just 12/1 after a miserable night in Naples for the Reds that saw them 4-0 down inside 47 minutes.
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Goals from Andre Zambo Anguissa, Giovanni Simeone and a brace from Piotr Zielinski swept aside a lacklustre Liverpool side to send the home crowd at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona into raptures. Luiz Diaz pulled one back early in the second half for the visitors but it proved to be little more than a consolation.
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Klopp’s side were spared further humiliation when Alisson saved Victor Osimhen’s 18th-minute penalty and Virgil van Dijk, who was singled out for criticism by former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy, made a goal-line block.
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The result compounds Liverpool’s turbulent start to the Premier League season, after defeats to rivals Manchester United and draws with Fulham, Crystal Palace and neighbours Everton in recent weeks lleft them six points behind leaders Arsenal.
And the pressure appears to be mounting on Klopp following the dismissal of his compatriot, Thomas Tuchel, just hours after Chelsea fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat against the Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.
Tuchel’s departure comes less than a week after the end of the summer transfer window, in which Chelsea spent a record £272m to bring in the likes of Raheem Sterling, Wesley Fofana, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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The online reaction to the growing uncertainty over Klopp’s future has, however, been mixed.
On Twitter, one fan responded to the news of Klopp’s slashed odds with: “No way, one of the best managers in the league even after this.”
Another added: “I think it’s more the opposition fans…most Liverpool fans know there’s no chance.”
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Others, meanwhile, appear less convinced. “Wouldn't be so sure .... Gerrard hovering about and no I'm not saying he is a better manager,” wrote one.
“Needs to be done, but fsg won’t so it’s looking peak for us,” added another.
Next up for Liverpool is a Premier League clash against Wolves at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Topics: Jurgen Klopp, Champions League, Thomas Tuchel, Liverpool, Napoli
The SPORTbible Team