Jurgen Klopp accused of disrespecting the FA Cup

While Liverpool might hold a four-point buffer at the top of the Premier League table, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has come under some scrutiny after his side crashed out of the FA Cup on Monday night.

Slumping to a 2-1 loss away at Wolves, the former Borussia Dortmund manager has seen his dream of a treble-winning season come to an abrupt end.

Opting to make a string of changes to their squad at Molineux, former Wolves player Micky Grey has accused Klopp of disrespecting the prestigious Cup.

“Why do you disrespect the FA Cup?”

“Would Klopp play three young kids in the Champions League?” ❌@MickyGray33 isn’t happy with #LFC 👀 pic.twitter.com/dWaGDwuzpC

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 8, 2019

Klopp defends his selection policy

Although Gray may have been heavily critical of Klopp’s decision to not include the likes of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Gini Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson, the Liverpool boss has been quick to defend his squad selection policy.

“I am not sure what you would have said if I had started with Fabinho and Ki-Jana [Hoever] from the start. Maybe a few smart people would have said I didn’t respect the competition.

“I changed a lot because I thought we had to not because I wanted to. The problem was that we played a similar line-up in three tough games, so it was clear we had to change.”

Now suffering two defeats on the bounce and facing his toughest test of the season, Klopp has received some backing from former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher.

Taking to Twitter after Liverpool’s shock defeat in the Midlands, Carragher was quick to give his opinion of the Reds’ disappointing FA Cup run.

https://twitter.com/Carra23/status/1082401278884499458

 

Klopp’s history of FA Cup misery

While Klopp may have defended his decision to rotate his squad on Monday, Liverpool’s exploits in the FA Cup under the 51-year-old have many fans around Anfield concerned.

Back in Klopp’s debut Cup run in 2016, Liverpool were knocked out by West Ham in the fourth round after just coming past a replay with then League Two side Exeter City following a 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park.

One year later, it was an almost identical situation for the Liverpool boss.

After his youthful side could only manage another draw at fellow League Two side, Plymouth Argyle, It took Lucas Leiva’s first goal in seven years to eventually come past The Pilgrims.

However, like Monday night, Klopp’s side were dumped out of the Cup courtesy of a loss against Wolves in 2017.

As for their lackluster run last season, things started ever so brightly for the German boss after debutant Virgil van Dijk secured victory over Everton in the third round.

Sadly for Klopp and Liverpool, their fourth round curse was soon to follow.

Beaten 3-2 at home by West Brom, a side that would go on to be relegated later that season, fans on Merseyside saw another day at Wembley pass them by.

Now failing to lift the FA Cup in over 12 years, should Klopp be taking the competition more seriously?

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