Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp blames Tottenham star for Man City League title heartbreak

Jurgen Klopp joked that he does not like James Maddison after he failed to close down Vincent Kompany for his famous Manchester City goal against Leicester in 2019.

Maddison left the King Power Stadium last summer to join Spurs in a £40million move after Leicester's relegation from the Premier League. The playmaker has scored four goals and provided eight assists during his debut campaign in Lilywhite.

But one moment from his time at the East Midlands club still rankles with Liverpool boss Klopp. Maddison's Leicester faced Man City in their penultimate fixture of the 2018/19 campaign with Guardiola's side battling Klopp's team for the title.

A stunning strike late in the second half from former captain Kompany settled the game as City won 1-0 before beating Brighton on the final day to seal Premier League glory. The Sky Blues ended that season just a point clear of the Merseysiders with Kompany's goal against the Foxes seen as the decisive moment

And Klopp admits he struggles to forgive the now Spurs star for preventing the former centre-back's wonder strike against Leicester five years ago.

"The moment when Vini Kompany fires the ball there, I was really happy I didn't get a stroke in that moment. That's how it must feel" he said in an interview with Redmen TV. "I know exactly how I was. Lying on the sofa watching and thinking 'Maddison, Maddison. Block him. Close him down' and since then I don't like Maddison.

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"I was angry with Brendan [Rodgers] that day because he should have taken him off. I don't know if he was tired. Leicester played a really good first half

"After that they should have scored. So it's just a personal thing I've got no problem with the player. I saw him again last weekend."

Liverpool may have missed out on the title by the narrowest of margins in 2019 but they responded strongly in 2019/20. The Reds ended their 30-year wait for a 19th top-flight title by finishing 19 points clear of Man City in second place.