Jurgen Klopp delivers ‘brutal’ Newcastle United admission after Liverpool’s Premier League complaint

Jurgen Klopp says it is “brutal” that Liverpool face Newcastle United in Saturday’s early kick-off but vowed to relish their busy run-in, despite previously complaining.

Klopp was angered at the Premier League and BT Sport’s decision to hand his side a 12:30pm kick-off at St James’ Park, just three days after they host Villarreal at Anfield in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

The German boss believed the manic schedule could impact the Reds’ chance of winning a historic quadruple and requested that the kick-off time on Tyneside was pushed back to the evening.

However, the demand was turned down by the Premier League, and Klopp has finally appeared to have accepted the decision.

‘It’s brutal but it’s fine’ - Jurgen Klopp

Klopp told Sky Sports: “We are just really focusing on the next game and that’s not that complicated because the challenges are massive that we are facing.

“We play Everton with their own needs and targets and stuff like this. It was never an easy game and it will not be an easy game and all these kind of night things.

“After that, we sleep twice and play Villarreal and then it’s Newcastle. It’s brutal but it’s fine.

“It’s the best situation you can have and that’s why we enjoy it as well, but not with the big things in our minds. Just go for the next one and try to play the best football you can.”

Although safe from relegation, Howe has insisted his players will compete to win every game as they aim to put a dent in either Liverpool or Manchester City’s title hopes over the next fortnight.

Klopp’s men head to the North East aware that Newcastle are yet to lose at St James’ Park, where they have won six consecutive games, in 2022.