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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Tom Cavilla

Jeff Stelling sends on-air apology after comments about Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Jeff Stelling has apologised for comments he made about Jurgen Klopp on Saturday afternoon having originally questioned the amount of time the Liverpool boss has been dedicating to media appearances.

The German, like many of his players, has had his fair share of critics after Reds' poor start to the season which has left the team trailing both Arsenal and Manchester City by a considerable distance just three months into the campaign.

Never afraid to own up and take responsibility, Klopp has owned up to his team's below-par displays this term while recognising time remains for a change in fortunes to occur.

READ MORE: 'People don't understand' - Trent Alexander-Arnold slams critics with impassioned defence of Liverpool form

READ MORE: Liverpool 'big talent' who Jurgen Klopp loved was sold for £15m and now finds himself without a club

A common criticism of Klopp in recent weeks has been remaining loyal to a number of first-team players who are no longer deserving of starting roles within the team, though a fresh accusation was made by Stelling on Sky Sports in relation to how the former Borussia Dortmund boss is spending his time away from the sidelines.

Speaking this afternoon, making reference to a recently released YouTube video involving Klopp at the Reds' AXA Training Centre, the Sky Sports host said : "I have to say, Jurgen Klopp is very generous, very generous with his time for the media. They're down in ninth place, they've lost against Leeds, should he be spending so much time with the media?

"It is a genuine question. He is Liverpool's coach, isn't he? Hang on a second, he has had a game on Saturday, a game in midweek as well. He has got media commitments galore on Friday, that he will do. But I just wonder if Liverpool fans feel that they should be seeing a little less of him."

Later in the show, Stelling retracted his earlier remarks after realising his error. "Now, earlier in the programme, I asked a question about Liverpool. I asked if Jurgen Klopp was maybe doing too much media," he recalled.

"I have to say I stand corrected because the [video] that we showed at the time - and I didn't know this - was recorded on September 27, during the international break. Jurgen had no commitments at all at that stage. Jurgen, look, I did not mean to offend. I absolutely apologise. What do I know? Obviously, not very much. My apologies if it offended Jurgen Klopp or, indeed, anybody at Liverpool. All the boys backed Jurgen anyway, and all said I was an idiot - they're obviously right!"

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