MANAGER JURGEN KLOPP urged Liverpool supporters not to sing his name after an impressive 4-1 victory over defending Premier League champions Leicester marked the opening of a new-look Anfield in impressive fashion.
The extrovert German was seen remonstrating with home fans at one point in the second half of Saturday’s match as they chanted his name in appreciation of a memorable inauguration of a new main stand which has raised the capacity at Anfield to 55,000.
“I’m really on the side of the players, I really am,” said Klopp. “I’m responsible for the bad performances, they’re responsible for the good performances. It’s quite a simple deal.
“I don’t like to celebrate like something special has just happened — that is what I expect from us and we have to show it. We will see how often we can show it.
“That’s what we have to do this season, create an atmosphere, but please don’t sing my name before the game is decided! Immediately the Kop started singing ‘Jurgen Klopp’, it’s like celebrating a penalty before it is scored. I don’t play!
“If somebody likes me, that’s nice — I like them all. It’s nice, but it’s not necessary. I know it doesn’t seem too smart but that’s me. It’s very nice, but I’ve heard it often enough.”
Goals from Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane put Liverpool 2-0 ahead, only for dreadful play by emergency centre-half Lucas to gift Jamie Vardy a goal for the visitors.
Robert Huth might have equalised but headed against the crossbar and, after the interval, Adam Lallana made it 3-1 before a late slip by Kasper Schmeichel presented Firmino with his second, and Liverpool’s fourth goal.
It was a performance which Klopp clearly believed answered some of the early season criticism of his team and his transfer window dealings.
“We’ve had two weeks now and I hear a little bit of doubt in your questions,” said Klopp. “You don’t say it, but I can hear it, even when I’m not a native speaker.”
He added: “It’s our job to prove we’re as strong as I think we are. Today we showed it in a few moments but I hope we can do better.”
