Richard Keys has torn into Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and has claimed he thinks the German will walk out of Anfield this summer, rather than oversee a rebuild.
Liverpool, 10th after the opening 20 games, have endured a miserable season to date and are staring at the very real prospect of having no European football in 2023-24.
Having finished second with 92 points last season, losing out to Man City by a single point, Liverpool were again expected to be a title contender but injuries and multiple players out of form has seen them plunge down the standings, leading to calls for a major rebuild in the summer.
For Keys, he is unconvinced that Klopp is ‘up’ for committing to a rebuild and is predicting the Reds boss ‘will walk’.
‘There’s only one winner when a coach falls out with the press – and it’s not the coach,’ Keys said in a savage post on his website.
‘My guess is Klopp will walk. Not now – but if they’re knocked out of the CL (Champions League) by Real Madrid I think he’ll be gone before the start of next season. Liverpool are way off. A shadow of what they once were – and it’s no good blaming FSG (Fenway Sports Group). The downfall is Klopp’s responsibility.
‘He didn’t start the re-build soon enough. That was one of Fergie’s greatest strengths – that he would rip apart successful teams. What were Liverpool thinking keeping Milner, Henderson and Firminho? Tiago [sic] is past his best – not that I was ever a fan. He was the wrong player at the wrong club at the wrong time.
‘He slows Liverpool down. In fact, the entire midfield is too old or not good enough. Robertson is past his best. Whoever is in charge next season has a massive job on his hands. Do we believe Klopp is up for it? I don’t.’
Liverpool’s last defeat – their seventh in the league this season already – saw them turned over 3-0 by Wolves.
Afterwards Klopp refused to answer a question asked by James Pearce of the Athletic, due to his coverage, although Pearce would later claim it was a case of mistaken identity.
Nonetheless, Keys labelled the spat ‘pathetic’ on Klopp’s behalf and feels the cracks are there to suggest the German’s time at Anfield may not have long left to run.
Klopp has transformed Liverpool since taking over back in 2015.
He became the first Reds boss to win a Premier League title and also delivered Champions League success, beating Tottenham in 2019.
Klopp took Liverpool to a further two Champions League finals, too, where they lost out to Real Madrid.
One of Keys’ biggest irritations – and he has used it as a comparison – is that Man United great Sir Alex Ferguson was constantly rebuilding, even when his time ran through rivals to win the league.
Liverpool acquired Cody Gakpo in January but need defensive and midfield reinforcements come the summer if they are to again contend for the league title.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
