Jurgen Klopp was critical of the Liverpool supporters in his team's 5-1 win over West Ham United in the EFL Cup Quarter-finals. Liverpool will face a visit from Arsenal next in the Premier League, with the teams locked in a heated race for the title
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp criticised his own team's fans after the 5-1 EFL Cup victory over West Ham United, having deemed their support on the night inadequate. Klopp's side thrashed the Hammers in the cup quarters to set up a two-legged semi-final tie against Fulham, with the winner of that bout, in turn, scheduled to play one of Chelsea or Middlesbrough in the final. (Football News)
"In the first half, when the boys played exceptionally, I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me," Klopp said. "I asked people: 'What do they want?' We changed a lot of things and we dominated West Ham like crazy and missed chances. If I was in the stands, I would be on my toes, 1,000%.
"I don't know if the Man United game was that bad that we have to say sorry we didn't smash them?"
Locked in a title race at the Premier League summit, Liverpool face a visit from Mikel Arteta's high-flying Arsenal next. With the crunch tie in mind, Klopp requested the Liverpool support to back the team more fiercely ahead of the Gunners' trip.
"We need Anfield on Saturday," continued Klopp.
"Arsenal didn't play this week. Anyone who knows anything about them knows they will be prepared, so we need Anfield on their toes from the first second, without me having an argument with the opposition coach.
"If it is too much football in December, if you are not in the right shape, give your ticket to somebody else."
After 17 games in the league, Liverpool are a point behind Arsenal, but have lost just once all season - the least in the league. They have relied, once again, on the brilliance of Mohamed Salah, whose 11 goals and seven assists at the time of writing make him the competitions's second-highest scorer and joint-most assist provider.