15 Dec 2015

LFC Embarrassment? Redknapp slams 'Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp' for cringeworthy, Rodgers-esque decision to celebrate WB draw

After another turgid home performance on Sunday, Liverpool somehow contrived to scrape a draw against Premier League giants West Brom, and given the club's poor run of current form, that's hardly something to celebrate. After the game, however, Jurgen Klopp and his players engaged in a spectacularly ill-advised (and Rodgers-esque) display of self-aggrandisement, and like many fans (myself included) ex-Red Jamie Redknapp is not impressed.

In his column for the Daily Mail this week, Redknapp noted:

"As for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, I’m not sure about celebrating a 2-2 draw at home to West Brom in front of the Kop".

I totally agree with this. Perhaps I missed the memo, but since when do Liverpool engage in post-match celebrations after struggling to secure a home draw against (on paper), a vastly inferior team?

It's not like the Reds dominated the game, and delivered an enthralling masterclass of attacking football against a superior, world-renowned team. The Reds struggled against *West Brom*, and had to come from behind to secure a point.

Klopp claims he wanted to celebrate the performance of the fans, but if that's the case, just gather the players together and respectfully applaud the crowd; don't get the whole squad to link arms and triumphantly genuflect like they've just won the league.

Imagine if Brendan Rodgers had engaged in a similarly ham-fisted stunt after a miserable home performance (and two dropped points). There'd be blood on the streets, and Rodgers would've been eviscerated by fans for displaying an embarrassing, small-club mentality.

Klopp's sentiment is understandable, and, indeed, admirable, but the execution/timing (amid a run of poor form) was cringeworthy, and brought back memories of the cack-handed Luis Suarez T-Shirt debacle. Additionally, there's an element of hypocrisy as it's highly probable that the fans praising Klopp for his passion would've denigrated Rodgers for doing the same thing.

On a related note: I don't see why the crowd deserved praise. It took 90+ minutes for LFC fans to actually make some significant noise, and for much of the game it was business as usual. i.e. quiet, and passionless, just like many games at Anfield (something about which several Liverpool legends have complained this season).

Hopefully, going forward, this kind of self-congratulatory hoo-haa will be reserved for the aftermath of dominant Liverpool victories, or cup final wins. It should certainly never happen again (IMO) after a draw against Premier League minnows, or, god forbid, a defeat (!)

Author: Jaimie K


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