Jürgen Klopp's angry clash with TNT Sports reporter after reigniting Liverpool 'crime' row

Jürgen Klopp is going to be a huge miss for not just Liverpool, but the Premier League as a whole. The feeling is no doubt mutual, although there is one element of English football the German will certainly not miss.

Klopp has been perhaps the biggest opponent of the 12:30pm kick-off that has been commonplace in the Premier League for some time now. His feelings on the controversial timeslot have likely not been helped by the fact his Liverpool side has been selected for it more than any other club this season.

The Reds were once again picked for the earliest Saturday slot last weekend when they took on West Ham at the London Stadium, less than 72 hours after facing Everton in the Merseyside derby. The good news for Klopp though is that will be the last time he has to face his most dreaded kick-off time.

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Before he bids farewell to the Premier League though, Klopp has taken another swipe at British broadcaster TNT Sports, which carries the coverage of the 12:30pm kick-offs. Bemoaning English sides’ fortunes in Europe after Aston Villa’s semi-final first-leg defeat to Olympiacos last night, Klopp once again criticized the channel in a fiery rant.

"I had a chat with TNT — a television channel I will never watch again — and they said they pay us to play football but I don't see it that way, football pays them,” Klopp said during his press conference. “They are still happy and collect subscribers but you can take me off.

"It's a general problem. They dare Thursday-Sunday, Weds-Sat 12:30pm, it is a crime. I was waiting for Amnesty International to go to them. I would like to be part of that meeting when someone says 'Liverpool 12:30pm' and the whole room bursts into laughter. I would love to be there. In the whole world we have the quickest turnaround between games."

It’s far from the first time that Klopp has had a go at TNT, formerly known as BT Sport. His feud with the broadcaster perhaps came to a head though back in 2020.

With Covid restrictions in place and games coming thick and fast at the start of the 2020/21 season, a clearly frustrated Klopp took aim at the broadcaster’s reporter Des Kelly after seeing James Milner hobble off during yet another early kick-off at Brighton. Here’s the full transcript from the now infamous interview…

Kelly: "James Milner, hamstring is it?"

Klopp: "Yeah, congratulations."

Kelly: "Me, personally?"

Klopp: "No, but you work for them yeah? Hamstring. Surprise. And they had injuries as well because it's a tough time. But ask Chris Wilder how we avoid that.

Kelly: "Maybe you're firing at the wrong target. We are broadcasters, we work within Premier League rules, and Premier League makes the rules, that's the Premier League clubs, so shouldn't you be talking to Premier League clubs? Shouldn't you be talking to chief executives..."

Klopp: "I don't know how often I have to say it: you pick us for 12:30 kick-offs. You picked it. Not you, personally. But you did, didn't you?

"Us on 12.30. Between now and December and New Year, there's one more Wednesday and Saturday 12.30 kick-off.

Kelly: "When you say 'you picked the 12.30', the Premier League clubs chose that slot. There's a reason that slot is there, because it's valuable to the Premier League.

Klopp: "These are difficult times."

Kelly: "Of course it's difficult, the stadiums are empty and the broadcasters are supporting the game."

Klopp: "But if you play at 3pm, or 5.30pm, it's exactly the same.

Kelly: "Your chief executives and other chief executives should be having that discussion. If you come down here and just have a go at the broadcaster, it doesn't go anywhere, it's not going to change anything.

Klopp: "I'm not having a go at the broadcasters, I just say how it is.

Kelly: "You said it was criminal."

Klopp: "Playing 12:30 after Wednesday is really dangerous for the Premier League players."

Kelly: "You also said the broadcasters don't care and that's the problem. That isn't the problem..."

Klopp: "Why did you pick us against Crystal Palace if you care?"

Kelly: "Well, I didn't pick it but every pick is agreed by the Premier League, with every executive around that table."

Klopp: "You always rely on things we agreed in another time..."

Kelly: "No, no, no. If it's about player welfare why did the Premier League clubs block five subs?"

Klopp: "That's very interesting. Because when we had the talk between the managers a week ago, it was 15-5 or 16-4 in favour of five subs. But since then nothing happened.

"You need at least at least 14 votes and Chris Wilder or whoever, constantly say I'm selfish. I think all the things he's said shows that he's selfish but that's not too important. I was in a similar situation as he is when I worked at Mainz — all about staying in the league.

"But now they [can make] three subs and have one point. So there's no advantage or disadvantage. If you can do five subs in a game like this, it's not for tactical reasons.

"For example, if we have had five subs today I would have taken off Robbo for Kostas to save Robbo, not to make our game better.

"It's just to save the players. It's for all players. You will it from now on until December. We will see."

Kelly: "We agree with you and I understand what you're saying, but you're going about it the wrong way. You're attacking the broadcaster instead of getting the support you need in the way you need in the Premier League meeting.

Kloop: "You will get praise for your interview because you stuck to [your point], so, great.

"What I want to say is that I only go for the broadcasters for the Wednesday and 12.30 [on Saturday]. Only seven managers have a similar problem and we all agree.

"I should stop doing it, and I want to, as it doesn't help. The problem is we signed this contract... in this season it's a bigger problem, no pre-season, because of the intensity, the shorter season etc. When we get this slot, it's not OK."

"Have a look how many — I am not selfish but I obviously speak about Liverpool — when his year is over, we've had this slot three times. Who else has had it three times? No one. Of course it's a problem for me as I pick a team."