'I should hate him'

Jürgen Klopp has forgiven Vincent Kompany for the Belgian's crucial goal in 2019. Kompany, the Burnley manager, will face Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. Four years ago, Kompany scored a crucial goal for Manchester City, which helped them become champions at the expense of Liverpool.

In 2019, City played a difficult match against Leicester City. The ball simply did not want to go in the Citizens, so Kompany decided to try it from a distance. His teammates could already see the mood brewing – Vinny, don't shoot! – but saw how the attempt was brilliantly too powerful for Kasper Schmeichel: 1-0.

The goal came in the penultimate match of the 2018/19 season. City, like Liverpool, won that round and neither team made a mistake on the last match day. Manchester City ultimately finished at the top with one point more than Liverpool.

Klopp was asked at the press conference whether he still harbors a grudge against Kompany for his winning goal against Leicester. “Yes, I forgave him for that a long time ago,” Klopp replied. “There are a lot of people I should hate. Arjen Robben is one of them, but I don't hate him.”

Robben was considered one of the star players of Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga for years when Klopp was at the helm of Borussia Dortmund. The Dutchman was often in particularly good form against those Boruses. The highlight for Robben against Dortmund came in the Champions League final in 2013. The Dutchman made it 1-2 just before the end with an excruciatingly slow shot.

So there are no feelings of hatred towards Robben. “The same goes for Vincent Kompany,” Klopp continues. “I think there were more defining games that season. I still think Maddison should have blocked that shot. Vincent tried to clear the ball and the ball ended up in the goal,” Klopp ends with a wink.

Liverpool is again involved in the English title battle with Manchester City this season, while Arsenal is also still fully involved. Liverpool is the leader and has two points more than Manchester City, which has played one game less. Arsenal, like City, has 49 points, but has also played a game more than the Manchester team. Burnley is nineteenth and must earn at least seven points to avoid relegation.

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