Jurgen Klopp vs Roy Keane: Liverpool boss says Manchester United legend 'must have been watching a different game'

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Joe Krishnan28 September 2020

Jurgen Klopp claims Roy Keane "must have been watching a different game" as the Liverpool boss denied his side put in a "sloppy" performance during their 3-1 victory over Arsenal.

The Premier League champions continued their perfect start to the season with three wins from three after goals from Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and debutant Diogo Jota in response to Alexandre Lacazette's early strike.

The Reds dominated possession and were threatening throughout the match and despite waiting nearly an hour for the third goal to arrive, their lead rarely looked like slipping.

Despite the positives, Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three home games, conceding seven goals. And Keane, working as a pundit for Sky Sports, pointed out some of their defensive mistakes in his post-match analysis of the game.

Klopp, who was standing by waiting for his live post-match interview, appeared to be incensed with the notion that his side were sloppy and questioned Keane's comments.

Klopp put up a passionate defence of his 'exceptional' Liverpool team  Photo: Pool via REUTERS
Pool via REUTERS

He said: "Did I hear Mr Keane say that we had a sloppy performance tonight? Because I could hear you already. Did he say that?

Asked to elaborate on what he meant by saying they were "sloppy", Keane replied: "I think they gave up one or two opportunities which they'll be disappointed with.

Klopp responded with a passionate defence on his team's display and labelled their performance "exceptional".

"I'm not sure if I heard it right or if it was another game... it cannot be this game. Sorry. It's an incredible description of this game. It was absolutely exceptional, nothing was sloppy. Absolutely nothing.

"From the first second, [we were] dominant against a team in form and you have to be careful like hell not to give the counter-attacks. I think 60/70 per cent of the balls in behind were offside and you wait longer for the flag meanwhile, so that's why it feels not so great.

"Alisson had to make one save, two balls in behind and you cannot avoid that, you need a goal in these situations. Apart from that, the football we played was exceptional tonight. It's the opposite of sloppy."

Keane clarified his comments after hearing Klopp's apparent misunderstanding, adding: "I said there were sloppy moments but I think you've been outstanding.

"I've been giving the club nothing but praise. Not sure you heard me correctly there. You need to hear the rest of it."

Despite the frosty exchange between the two, Klopp declared it was "all good" only for Keane to suggest the German was "very sensitive" once he had gone off air. It seems that Liverpool-Manchester United rivalry is still alive and well, even after all of these years.

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