Liverpool handed shock pre-Aston Villa blow in boost to Newcastle United and Man Utd

Newcastle United’s Champions League rivals Liverpool will be without their manager Jurgen Klopp for their upcoming game against Aston Villa. The Reds’ boss will also have to miss one of their games next season.

That’s because he has been hit with a punishment from the FA for media comments he made after his side’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 30th April. He has also been hit with a £75,000 fine.

Newcastle are currently a point above Liverpool in the table as the pair battle it out with Manchester United for a place in the Champions League. The Magpies also have a game in-hand on Thursday evening at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Klopp has since apologised. He said: “The whole situation should not have happened at all. It was out of emotion and anger in that moment. That’s why I celebrated the way I did.

“We won a game 4-3 in a spectacular manner and the only headlines I created and I really regret that. It’s not necessary and not how it should be.”

An independent Regulatory Commission have imposed the sanctions on the former Borussia Dortmund man. Their statement reads: “Before he had been charged, Mr Klopp proactively addressed the matter in his interview on 2 May 2023. He explained that he had been swept away by the emotion of the moment, that he had not intended what had been attributed to him, and expressed his regret.

“That regret is evidenced by Mr Klopp’s speedy admission of the charge, and the fulsome apology and explanation that he offered in his letter of 3 May 2023. The Commission accepts that apology and regret to be genuine. The Commission therefore accepts Mr Klopp’s apology, and recognises that he was speaking in the heat of the moment. Nevertheless, Mr Klopp is a high profile figure, who is required to lead by example.

“He has a history of breaches, most recently in November 2022. The assertions that Mr Klopp made against Mr Tierney were unacceptable, ranging as they did beyond the immediate match.”

Liverpool have been in strong form over recent weeks and have closed the gap on Newcastle. Eddie Howe’s side will be hoping they can take a big step towards European football with three points against Brighton next up.