Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hits out at Leeds United after European Super League t-shirt offer

Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp. Pic: Simon Hulme

The Reds head coach was left unhappy at what he felt was an attack on himself and his players by the world of football on Monday night.

Plans emerged over the weekend for a new European Super League - a tournament the Anfield outfit have signed up - with 12 clubs across the continent joining the rebel competition which is set to challenge the Champions League

Klopp was speaking post-match following a draw with the Whites after Diego Llorente's late header cancelled out Saido Mane's opener in LS11.

Fans protested outside the ground ahead of kick-off while Leeds themselves displayed a banner in the Don Revie stand opposing the idea.

United's senior players also wore t-shirts in the warm-up with the same message which read: "Earn it. Football is for the fans."

Klopp was left aggrieved by the display, feeling it was an attack on the wrong people.

"I don't think it is right," Klopp reflected at Elland Road.

"They put them [the t-shirts] in our dressing room, I don't think we deserved that. I don't like the way a lot of people are talking about Liverpool.

"This is a fantastic football club. At this specific moment we can't blame the team for that. I take the criticism for everything, but this we have nothing to do with.

"Now people write articles about what they should do with it. People are shouting at us. We have to be careful because we are people as well. We have to be careful. I understand all the talk and I don't like it as well.

"Don't forget we have nothing to do with it. We still have to play football. It is really not OK. Our owners are great people, they will try to explain the decisions. Will I understand it? I don't know, but it is still not my decision.

"I coach a football team. If people want to criticise me, completely fine. But other things, it is not OK. Everyone should not forget."

Asked about the game and draw with Marcelo Bielsa's team, he said: "It is disappointing of course but we cannot say it was not deserved for Leeds. We had big chances in the first half but didn't use those.

"When you concede a goal it is not nice but it was not that it was not deserved.

"We will fight for the Champions League with all we have and if we can reach it, if not if not. This a point more in the end. It is always best to win all the games but if not we have to shake a bit and go again and that is what we will do."