Klopp slams 'senseless' Nations League

AFP

Jurgen Klopp has branded the UEFA Nations League “the most senseless competition in the world” as he prepares to see many of his squad leave on international duty following Liverpool’s drab 0-0 draw with Manchester City.

The two sides — along with Chelsea — are all locked on 20 points at the top of the Premier League table, separated only by goal difference after Sunday’s matches.

Klopp is pleased a hectic schedule of seven matches in 23 days is now over but is unsure what the next fortnight will bring for his players.

“If somebody would have told me after eight match days you have 20 points, I would say with that fixture list, ‘I’ll buy it, let’s start with the ninth match day’,” said Klopp.

“The boys unfortunately go away again now and have to play Nations League games, the most senseless competition in the world of football.”

Klopp said players need a proper break to be fresher, pointing to the case of Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson who played for England at the World Cup in Russia.

“If you want to see fresher (players), give them a summer break,” he said. “For Jordan Henderson it was exactly two weeks, which is funny. But that’s how it is.

“That’s why I say going away is not a big problem but now you call a manager of any country and ask him to leave out one or two players and he says, ‘I am under pressure as well’ because now it’s Nations League.

“I don’t exactly know what you can win but there is some final next summer or something so that’s it.”

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola took responsibility for placing his trust in Riyad Mahrez as the Algerian’s missed penalty five minutes from time cost City victory in a disappointing 0-0 draw at Liverpool.

The draw preserved both sides’ unbeaten Premier League records, but they failed to lay down an early marker in the title race as Chelsea moved into a three-way tie at the top on 20 points after eight games.

“I see him every day in the training sessions, I see him every day practice penalties and it gave me a lot of confidence,” said Guardiola after he instructed Gabriel Jesus, who earlier replaced regular penalty taker Sergio Aguero, to hand the ball to Mahrez.

However, Mahrez’s miserable record from the spot continued as City’s club record 60 million pound (US$79 million) signing missed for the fourth time in his last six penalties by blasting well over the bar.

Unlike the four enthralling encounters between the two last season when Liverpool beat the English champions three times, a highly-anticipated clash fell flat with neither side managing to register a shot on target until after the hour mark.

However, Guardiola admitted his plan for a slower tempo to stop Liverpool springing onto the counter-attack had worked.

“If it is an open game at Anfield you don’t even have a one-percent chance,” said Guardiola.

“Up and down they are the best team in the world. Running in these transitions there is no one better.

“They are built for that, Jurgen (Klopp) is built for that.

In that situation they are much better than us.”

But after losing on his three previous visits to Anfield as City boss, Guardiola took the positives from taking a point from one of the few venues the champions were defeated last season.

“We were close more than ever to win here. (A draw) is better than last season when we lose,” added Guardiola as City’s wait for a first win at Anfield since 2003 continued. “I’m so comfortable (with) the performance we have done. I know against which team we are playing.”

After starting the season with seven straight victories, Liverpool have now failed to win any of their past four matches.