IT was easy to read between the lines at Jurgen Klopp’s press conference. After days of discussion following the manager’s announcement on Sunday that Liverpool’s Under-23s would contest the FA Cup replay with Shrewsbury Town, Klopp was facing the music.
The criticism had come thick and fast. About disrespecting the cup and English tradition. About Premier League arrogance. About a turning of the back on the rest of football. Klopp was calm and considered. He said he didn’t wasn’t to be cast as the revolutionary. He also said – without naming names – that he’d had a lot of support and received a lot of messages.
It’s here where the gap in the lines is worth discussion. A problem in situations such as this, which Klopp has spoken about publicly in the past, is that due to the rabid rivalry in English football a partisan filter is applied to much of what Klopp says and does.
Wider points or wider issues are too often cast aside to castigate “Liverpool” or “the Liverpool manager”. Klopp has said over and over since his arrival in England that there is too much football here. He arrived from the Bundesliga, where the winter break is sacrosanct, into a world where elite athletes are asked to go again, and again, and again. Often with barely 48 hours between games. Often without anything approaching any kind of real break between seasons.
Liverpool’s senior players will go on warm-weather camps to work on their fitness during the winter break rather than playing against Shrewsbury, and Klopp insisted he did not regret his decision. ☀️ pic.twitter.com/P0ZH6rM1yY
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) January 28, 2020
He has criticised the amount of football over Christmas, the two-legged semi of the League Cup, the Club World Cup, The Nations League. He has called the idea of there being more Champions League games “b*******”. The pattern is clear. The schedule frustrates him. He thinks it’s unsustainable and he thinks it should change.
That Klopp is receiving support from supporters working in football unknown is no real surprise. Steve Bruce is frustrated by the same situation as Klopp. So is Ralph Hasenhuttl. Both have said so. They just haven’t taken the extreme extra step Klopp has opted for. Alex Ferguson regularly banged the drum for a winter break during his time as Manchester United manager.
In 2008, he proposed a staggered winter break for all Premier League sides, with a limited number of fixtures over three weekends meaning every club enjoyed a two-week break. He also spoke of extending fixtures further into May when the weather was less of an issue. Sound familiar?
He said then: “The weather is better in May and there's no issue with worn-out pitches in modern football. Will it ever happen? Well, I've been talking about a winter break ever since I came down to England, 22 years ago … but the people in charge still think football is a winter game."
It wasn’t the only time he cut a frustrated figure on the subject. Klopp’s beef, again aired on a number of occasions in his press conferences, is why the badge-wearing suits responsible for the administration of football in England, Europe and worldwide can’t get together to find workable, realistic, solutions.
Klopp: “I feel a bit sorry for Shrewsbury because after the game everyone spoke about what I said and not the great performance of Shrewsbury.”
— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) January 28, 2020
Think again about the season so far. Liverpool were presented with an either/or situation regarding the League Cup and the Club World Cup. The first team clearly could not compete in both in the space of 24 hours. How was that a plan? How was that a solution? And why was it left to Liverpool to decide what was right or wrong?
Was the plan simply, ‘hope Liverpool don’t reach that stage of the competition, then it will be sound’? The Reds were essentially punished for success. The current situation is less extreme, and the wider reaction is understandable because of the emotions and notions of romance attached to the FA Cup.
For my part, I wanted Liverpool to win it. Perhaps they still can. And as for replays, I think it’s a shame if they eventually go. My personal prism of the FA Cup dates back to the 1980s though. And the competition is unrecognisable from what it was then. There has been foaming and fuming about Klopp’s “disrespect” for the FA Cup and the Under-23 stance doesn’t quite add up in fairness.
If there was a hole in his arguments it was to why Liverpool couldn’t simply do what they’ve been doing – play some senior players and some younger players. It’s clear he wants to take a stance though. Despite claims to not want to be a “revolutionary” he must see the opportunity to be a catalyst for change here as it’s embarrassing for all involved – the FA and the Premier League – that it’s come to this.
"Don't tell managers who to select. It's our job." pic.twitter.com/wkKP4rHahd
— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) January 28, 2020
But the FA Cup is struggling regardless, and that’s not Liverpool’s fault, or Klopp’s. The bizarre kick-off times, even in finals. Semis at Wembley. More cash on offer for staying up in the Premier League than winning the thing. The careless scheduling, not just for clubs but fans, too. It all adds up to that romance dying just a little bit more every year. Is it up to Liverpool to fix it though?
Amid all the fury, there is a match to be played. Tickets have been priced at a more sensible level for what for Liverpool has unfortunately become an Under-23 game. For Shrewsbury, it’s still the night out at Anfield, an unexpected windfall on gate receipts and the opportunity – a now much improved one – to progress and face Chelsea.
And for Liverpool? Last time, a similar side represented the club in a cup competition it ended 5-0 to Aston Villa. And yet there were flashes of hope and green shoots of talent on display. This time, the opposition is a couple of rungs lower. This time it’s at Anfield.
Could the famous old trophy still be wrapped in red and appear on an open top bus in Liverpool come the summer? Liverpool are 6/4 to beat Shrewsbury and only 7/1 to win the cup.A cup in the bag and a huge point made about the football calendar? Dare to dream, Jürgen.
