Gabi Agbonlahor has criticized Jurgen Klopp in the past and decided to reignite his war of words with the Liverpool manager following his recent touchline rants
Jurgen Klopp has been criticized for his behavior towards referees(
Gabi Agbonlahor believes Jurgen Klopp was lucky to get away with a two-match touchline ban for his conduct during Liverpool’s recent 4-3 home win against Tottenham.
The Reds boss was banned and fined £75,000 by the FA after criticizing referee Paul Tierney. Klopp will watch Saturday’s game against Aston Villa from the stands at Anfield, with the second game of his suspension suspended to prevent further offences.
Agbonlahor believes Klopp should have received a longer punishment for celebrating in the face of fourth official John Brooks after Diogo Jota’s last-minute winner against Spurs. Klopp’s punishment was for his post-match comments, not his over-celebration.
“He doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment from Jurgen Klopp. I think he deserves a longer sentence and a bigger fine.”
The FA did not punish Klopp for celebrating in Brooks’ face because they gave him the “benefit of the doubt”. What angered the FA was Klopp’s post-match comments in which he suggested Tierney had a vendetta against Liverpool.
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Klopp then apologized to Brooks and Tierney. In a letter to the FA, he noted: “Although it was not my intention, which I accept, it now appears that I have questioned the integrity of Mr Tierney. I take responsibility for that. Come to think of it, the words I used were inappropriate.
“Both incidents were driven by emotion. I was overly emotional in some of the decisions I made, which then led to frustration and a sense of injustice. I carried that emotion into the demanding and time-sensitive post-match press engagements.”
After questioning the severity of Klopp’s punishment, Agbonlahor then claimed he had “annoyed” the Liverpool manager. The Reds have failed to win a major trophy this season and are on course to miss out on Champions League football next season. Liverpool are fifth in the table, a point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, having played a game more.
The spat between Klopp and Agbonlahor began when the latter criticized Man United’s poor start to the season under Erik ten Hag, which saw them lose to Brighton and Brentford. Klopp said: “I listened to Gabi… he lost to us 6-0 in my first season and I don’t remember him being a mental monster on the pitch.
“What did you say on that show. I almost called to tell him he forgot he was a player. It was amazing.”
In response to those comments, Agbonlahor said: ‘Klopp only knew my first name, not my middle name!’ He knew what he was doing. It’s his way of saying, “Oh, I don’t know who he is. What’s his name?” And since then… (Liverpool are) 16 points behind Arsenal now.
“This has not been the season of the monster mentality for Liverpool. I’m just saying he’s been shaken up and this season Liverpool haven’t been what they should have been.’
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