Jurgen Klopp has made his bitter feelings clear on Newcastle United ahead of Liverpool clash

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp certainly hasn’t shied away when it comes to providing his views on Newcastle United. Indeed, the German has been extremely vocal since the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, PCP Partners and RB Sports & Media acquired ownership of the Magpies in October 2021.

His most recent ‘rant’ late last year, where he took sporting director Dan Ashworth’s ‘no ceiling’ comment out of context, rubbed the United fanbase up the wrong way, and even provoked a response from the usually reserved Eddie Howe.

On Saturday evening (kick-off 5:30pm), the two clubs meet for the first time since Klopp’s remarks, and while it’s unlikely to feature in Howe’s dressing room team talk, it will undoubtedly still be on the minds of supporters and likely contribute to an intimidating atmosphere for Klopp’s side.

However, that wasn’t the first time Klopp went public on his view about Newcastle. Less than a week after the £305million takeover was approved by the Premier League, the 55-year-old unleashed.

‘There is a new powerhouse’ - Klopp, October 2021

“What will it mean for football? A few months ago we had a massive argument – issue – the whole football world, with 12 clubs trying to build a Super League,” Klopp said. “Rightly so. It didn’t happen, but this is kind of creating a super team if you want. It’s pretty much the same; guaranteed spots in the Champions League in a few years’ time. Financial Fair Play nowadays, nobody knows exactly if it still exists or not.”

A new ‘super power’ had been born, according to Klopp.

“Newcastle fans will love it but for the rest of us it just means there is a new superpower in Newcastle,” he said. “We cannot avoid that.

“Money cannot buy everything but over time they will have enough money to make a few wrong decisions, then make the right decisions, and then they will be where they want to be in the long term. Everybody knows that, and obviously the Premier League, Richard Masters, thought: ‘Yeah, let’s give it a go.’”

‘There is no ceiling for Newcastle’ - Klopp, October 2022

Fast forward 12 months later, and Klopp was back at it.

“What can Liverpool do? We cannot act like them (Newcastle and Manchester City),” the former Borussia Dortmund manager said. “It is not possible. Not possible. It is just clear, and again, you know the answer.

“There are three clubs in world football (City, PSG and Newcastle) who can do what they want financially. It’s legal and everything, fine, but they can do what they want.”

For background, Ashworth said this last year: “I don’t think there’s a ceiling. But I pause, because I know how good the others are. If you look at Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal – how good their squads and infrastructure is – they’re some clubs to catch.”

Klopp saw - and was rattled. “I heard now that, at Newcastle, somebody (Dan Ashworth) said, ‘there is no ceiling for this club’. Yes! He is right. He is absolutely right. There is no ceiling for Newcastle. Congratulations, but other clubs have ceilings.”

Eddie Howe’s defence

Howe, however, was quick to clarify: “What Dan meant with his comment was there’s no ceiling to our ambition long term. We have huge plans and want to go to places with huge ambitions, but the reality of what we are working towards and working with, there is a ceiling because of all the things I have sat here and explained every week: Financial Fair Play. We’re still in a training ground that’s being renovated.

“We’re not living that life that is being discussed. We are living a very different reality. Our wage bill is very controlled. We’re trying to do things in a very stable and controlled way. Although we have spent money on players, it has not been extravagant or out of sync with the rest of the Premier League. Everyone has to be careful with their comments and opinions.”

For all that’s been said, you get the feeling those inside St James’ Park on Saturday will, and to quote Kevin Keegan, “love it” if they beat Klopp’s Liverpool and as a result, bolster their own top-four challenge whilst damaging the visitors’.