Jürgen Klopp ‘doesn’t like’ $51m ace after moment he prevented Liverpool from winning title

Jürgen Klopp enjoyed an excellent relationship with his Liverpool team during his tenure at Anfield, as well as opposition players and rival managers. However, he says he never forgave James Maddison after one particular incident.

Klopp will bid farewell to the Premier League this weekend when Liverpool host Wolves. It is sure to be an emotional occasion as the German is remembered for his nine trophy-laden seasons at Anfield.

The Reds won the Premier League and Champions League under Klopp, but his side came close to two more title celebrations, only to be overtaken on the final day twice by Manchester City.

READ MORE: Liverpool ‘preference’ appears over futures Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold

READ MORE: Liverpool are learning about Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon’s position as the transfer race looms

On one of those occasions, Liverpool beat Wolves on the final day, but City also won at Brighton to win the title. A key fixture in that fixture was Leicester’s visit to the Etihad, which Pep Guardiola’s men won 1-0 thanks to a long-range screamer from Vincent Kompany.

Tottenham midfielder Maddison was at Leicester that season and Klopp says he has not been able to get over his role in that famous goal. He told Redmen TV: “The moment Vincent Kompany touched the ball there, I’m very happy I didn’t have a stroke at the time because that’s what it must feel like.

“I just remember lying on the sofa looking at it and thinking ‘Maddison lock it, lock it’. Since then I don’t like Maddison. I was mad at Brendan (Rodgers) that day because he should have taken him down. , he was tired It’s just a personal thing, I don’t have a problem with him, but when I see him he’s… and now I saw him again last weekend!”

Maddison was at Leicester until last summer when he joined Tottenham in a deal worth $51m (£40m/€47m). He started the season in superb fashion but has not been able to recapture that form since returning from injury.

Liverpool.com says: Klopp’s comments about Maddison were said in jest and Vincent Kompany still had a lot of work to do before City won on the final day. It was one of several misses during Klopp’s tenure and Liverpool would have won a lot more if it weren’t for City and Pep Guardiola.