Jürgen Klopp has admitted that Liverpool need to find “a solution” to the growing opposition to the club’s hike in ticket prices following Saturday’s mass walkout of 10,000 fans.
The Liverpool manager, making a sudden return to the hotseat after undergoing an appendix operation on Saturday, said: “It’s not what we want. We want fans to stay until the game is finished. I have to collect more information.”
Klopp was reacting to the incident in the 77th minute of the game against Sunderland at Anfield when supporters registered their unhappiness at tickets in the new Main Stand rising from £59 (€76) to £77 (€99) next season.
The protest was backed by the club's iconic former defender Jamie Carragher – a season ticket holder in the Main Stand who, according to the Liverpool Echo, joined the 77th-minute walkout – along with their former striker John Aldridge and ex-manager Roy Evans .
Speaking ahead of tonight’s FA Cup replay at West Ham, Klopp said of the walkout: “It’s not too easy for me. Now I know it’s my problem too. Anything I’d say now would make it more complicated.”
With unfortunate timing, his comments came as the club announced it had cancelled a question and answer session with its chief executive Ian Ayre over the ticket price rises.
Ayre was scheduled to answer queries sent in by fans via Twitter about the controversial 2016-17 pricing structure on the club’s television station at 6pm last night. However, the event was cancelled just over fours hours beforehand.
Protest
With season tickets in the Main Stand increasing from £869 (€1,119) to £1,029 (€1,325) – despite the Premier League attracting an £8.3 billion (€10.7 billion) windfall of television money from next season – the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group held talks with senior management on Sunday, raising the possibility of a review into the tickets hike.
After fans had chanted “You greedy bastards, enough is enough” at the weekend, Evans tweeted: “Liverpool fans have every right to protest today. They’ve always stood up for what they believe in. LFC wouldn’t be what it is without them.”
Former Republic of Ireland international Aldridge joined in, tweeting: “I can understand the walkout! Scousers know how to throw a proper protest. Just horrible when it coincides with a horrible result.”
The exodus appeared to destabilise the players on the pitch, Liverpool throwing away a 2-0 lead against relegation-threatened Sunderland in the absence of Klopp.
The Liverpool manager was involved in yesterday’s preparation for the FA Cup fourth-round replay against West Ham at the club’s Melwood training ground.
“I feel good and I am back in the race,” said Klopp. “Everything is okay and we don’t have to talk about this any more.”
Klopp will be on the touchline for the trip to Upton Park, although he accepts he will not be his usual highly-animated self in the technical area.
With no questions over the fitness of the manager, fans will have been pleased to hear Klopp also describe the injury-plagued Daniel Sturridge’s recent training session as “impressive”.
Surprise inclusion
The striker, who has not played since early December, was a surprise inclusion on the bench on Saturday ahead of schedule although he did not get chance to get on as two first-half injuries scuppered plans.
He looks set to be included against West Ham, along with fellow striker Divock Origi and playmaker Philippe Coutinho who have both recovered from hamstring injuries.Strikers Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi and playmaker Philippe Coutinho are all set to be included in the squad for tonight’s game. Midfielders Joe Allen (hamstring) and Cameron Brannagan (illness) will not play while centre-back Dejan Lovren is likely to be rested.
West Ham will be without James Tomkins. Tomkins suffered a calf injury at Southampton on Saturday, and with Sam Byram cup-tied and Carl Jenkinson back at parent club Arsenal due to knee ligament damage, Joey O’Brien will step in at right-back.
Cheikhou Kouyate is available after missing the defeat at St Mary’s with an eye infection, but Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho (both thigh) are still absent. Guardian Service
