Jurgen Klopp insists Philippe Coutinho was genuinely injured for Liverpool's 2-1 win at Burnley as he laughed off talk of the Brazil forward joining Barcelona.
Coutinho missed Monday's Premier League fixture at Turf Moor with a thigh injury amid a backdrop of speculation over a move to the Nou Camp in the January transfer window.
The rumors were fuelled further by pictures - subsequently removed - of a Barcelona shirt with Coutinho's name appearing on the website of Nike, the Catalan club's kit manufacturer, over the weekend.
However, Reds boss Klopp claims there was nothing untoward behind the 25-year-old's absence from Liverpool's squad at Turf Moor as he responded to question about the Nike pictures.
"I heard about it. Somebody told me and I thought 'wow'. But I couldn't be less interested in anything in the world!" Klopp said.
"Him (Coutinho) and Mohamed (Salah) are injured, not massively but enough for today, no chance and at least a doubt for Everton."
Despite Coutinho and Salah's absences, Estonia defender Ragnar Klavan scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner for Liverpool after Johann Berg Gudmundsson had cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener.
And Klopp was most satisfied with the fortitude shown by his defense on a day when they might have wilted against a dogged Burnley side.
"I am really happy about our attitude and character," Klopp said. "You need to win your average games, win with attitude when you are not 100 percent.
"Burnley were an opponent motivated at the highest level. We needed to be ready for the wind, rain.
"It was cold and you need first of all concentration, you need readiness to work really hard, organization, discipline and a little bit of luck. We deserved the three points."
Mane's goal was his eight of the season and Klopp praised the Senegal winger for his determination when Liverpool's top players were missing.
"Sadio is unbelievably important for us," Klopp said. "He is strong, quick, so many things. He scores a goal like this and it is like 'wow!'. He comes into the dressing room and the whole team gives him a hand."
Klopp also confirmed he will show respect by allowing Mane and Egypt forward Salah to attend an awards ceremony in Ghana this week.
The Liverpool duo are to appear at the CAF Awards on Thursday, just 24 hours before the FA Cup third round tie with Everton at Anfield.
"Yes, they will go. We have two of the three best African players in our squad. We have to show them respect," said the German.
"If it had been a matchday they wouldn't have asked, but the night before is fine. We sleep in a hotel, they sleep in a plane. That is all the difference, the modern world.
"If Mo is not fit, it will not be for that. For our side, it is just a sign of respect.
"I know it, I had Aubameyang too, and there is nothing more important for them than go there. It's fine."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche revealed his frustation with the result but could not fault the effort of his players.
"I thought we had done enough to earn another point," he said. "So I am frustated with a soft goal right at the end but impressed with the mentality overall."
At the Goodison Park, Manchester United put a smile back on Jose Mourinho's face as fine goals from Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard sealed a 2-0 win over Everton.
Martial started in the absence of the injured Romelo Lukaku and the United forward broke the deadlock in the 57th minute at Goodison Park.
Paul Pogba teed up Martial on the edge of the area and he stroked a sublime finish into the top corner for his ninth goal of the season.
It was a welcome tonic for Mourinho amid reports the United manager is beginning to lose the support of his players after branding them "childish" and "immature" and admitting the squad needs major investment to catch City.
United moved back into second place in the Premier League after ending a frustrating run of three successive draws during the congested Christmast period.
"Our pride, our effort, everything was top class and on top of it we played very well. It wasn't a performance of tired boys, with the worst possible calendar," Mourinho said.
Timothy Abraham
Agence France Presse/Burnley
Coutinho missed Monday's Premier League fixture at Turf Moor with a thigh injury amid a backdrop of speculation over a move to the Nou Camp in the January transfer window.
The rumors were fuelled further by pictures - subsequently removed - of a Barcelona shirt with Coutinho's name appearing on the website of Nike, the Catalan club's kit manufacturer, over the weekend.
However, Reds boss Klopp claims there was nothing untoward behind the 25-year-old's absence from Liverpool's squad at Turf Moor as he responded to question about the Nike pictures.
"I heard about it. Somebody told me and I thought 'wow'. But I couldn't be less interested in anything in the world!" Klopp said.
"Him (Coutinho) and Mohamed (Salah) are injured, not massively but enough for today, no chance and at least a doubt for Everton."
Despite Coutinho and Salah's absences, Estonia defender Ragnar Klavan scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner for Liverpool after Johann Berg Gudmundsson had cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener.
And Klopp was most satisfied with the fortitude shown by his defense on a day when they might have wilted against a dogged Burnley side.
"I am really happy about our attitude and character," Klopp said. "You need to win your average games, win with attitude when you are not 100 percent.
"Burnley were an opponent motivated at the highest level. We needed to be ready for the wind, rain.
"It was cold and you need first of all concentration, you need readiness to work really hard, organization, discipline and a little bit of luck. We deserved the three points."
Mane's goal was his eight of the season and Klopp praised the Senegal winger for his determination when Liverpool's top players were missing.
"Sadio is unbelievably important for us," Klopp said. "He is strong, quick, so many things. He scores a goal like this and it is like 'wow!'. He comes into the dressing room and the whole team gives him a hand."
Klopp also confirmed he will show respect by allowing Mane and Egypt forward Salah to attend an awards ceremony in Ghana this week.
The Liverpool duo are to appear at the CAF Awards on Thursday, just 24 hours before the FA Cup third round tie with Everton at Anfield.
"Yes, they will go. We have two of the three best African players in our squad. We have to show them respect," said the German.
"If it had been a matchday they wouldn't have asked, but the night before is fine. We sleep in a hotel, they sleep in a plane. That is all the difference, the modern world.
"If Mo is not fit, it will not be for that. For our side, it is just a sign of respect.
"I know it, I had Aubameyang too, and there is nothing more important for them than go there. It's fine."
Burnley manager Sean Dyche revealed his frustation with the result but could not fault the effort of his players.
"I thought we had done enough to earn another point," he said. "So I am frustated with a soft goal right at the end but impressed with the mentality overall."
At the Goodison Park, Manchester United put a smile back on Jose Mourinho's face as fine goals from Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard sealed a 2-0 win over Everton.
Martial started in the absence of the injured Romelo Lukaku and the United forward broke the deadlock in the 57th minute at Goodison Park.
Paul Pogba teed up Martial on the edge of the area and he stroked a sublime finish into the top corner for his ninth goal of the season.
It was a welcome tonic for Mourinho amid reports the United manager is beginning to lose the support of his players after branding them "childish" and "immature" and admitting the squad needs major investment to catch City.
United moved back into second place in the Premier League after ending a frustrating run of three successive draws during the congested Christmast period.
"Our pride, our effort, everything was top class and on top of it we played very well. It wasn't a performance of tired boys, with the worst possible calendar," Mourinho said.
Timothy Abraham
Agence France Presse/Burnley
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar