Claims by Jurgen Klopp that Liverpool's below-par performances are a result of players being tired is sending out the wrong message, according to Chris Sutton.
The Reds are still digesting back-to-back Premier League defeats against Nottingham Forest and Leeds United and with three defeats in their last four matches, last season's runner-up are currently stuck in ninth position, way off the Champions League qualification pace.
Klopp's team have been plagued by injury issues all season, but in the wake of the home defeat to Leeds on Saturday - Liverpool's first at Anfield in 30 matches - suggestions by the German that some of his players are playing in too many matches has not been welcomed by BBC Sport pundit Sutton, even if they are true.
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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Sport, he said: “Some of the stuff he said over the weekend and after the game about the players are tired, I think (Antonio) Conte said a similar thing about Spurs players. It’s maybe true. But I don’t think that’s a good message to send out to the players or the supporters. They have had a bad season. I keep thinking they are going to bounce back. They don’t bounce back. Something isn’t right at Liverpool. Too many players are sub-standard.
“But I don’t think that’s a great message that Jurgen Klopp is sending out in any way, shape or form. Manchester City have to cope with European football. Spurs have to cope with European football. Arsenal, all these other clubs are coping. Liverpool aren’t and that’s the biggest issue if you are a Liverpool fan with what Klopp is saying.”
The Reds are back in Champions League action tonight, when they face in-form Napoli at Anfield, but both sides have already qualified for the knockout stages. Klopp's team will then face a tough test at Tottenham on Sunday before hosting Derby County in the League Cup on November 9. A Premier League home game against Southampton follows, three days later, before the club football calendar takes a break for the Qatar World Cup.
Klopp will be hoping that his struggling Liverpool side can drag themselves through the next four fixtures before performing a reset on their season after the international tournament is concluded.
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