Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool press conference. The Reds boss will answer questions from 1.15pm ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game against Toulouse, providing the latest team selection and injury news from within the squad.
After two European matches Liverpool are in a healthy position, leading Group E ahead of their upcoming opponent. A win on matchday three would mean they gain five-point advantage, massively strengthening the possibility of qualifying for the knockout round at the earliest possible stage.
As well as hearing from Klopp, midfielder Curtis Jones is also lined up for questioning from the media ahead of the showdown with the French club at Anfield.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has paid a touching tribute to Bill Kenwright – and hailed the late Everton chairman for his poignant Hillsborough speech in 2013.
Kenwright, a lifelong Everton supporter who was born in Wavertree, passed away just weeks after spending a prolonged period of time in intensive care for treatment on a cancerous tumour on his liver.
Everton confirmed that Kenwright, who had served as chairman since 2004 after succeeding Sir Philip Carter, passed away on Monday surrounded by his loved ones.
Speaking at his pre-Toulouse press conference on Wednesday, Klopp paid tribute to Kenwright as well as Sir Bobby Charlton, the former Manchester United captain, who passed away on Sunday.
“The thing that I read recently, obviously, [he had] a massive heart for the city [of Liverpool] and a massive heart for Everton but the message he gave around the Hillsborough speech he held that time, I heard about: ‘They chose the wrong city and chose the wrong mums’. That’s a really strong message,” said Klopp when asked if he had a tribute for Everton’s late owner.
“With all of the rivalry with Everton, especially around the games, I don’t think we have any issues with each other left or right of games. This just shows how united we are in these moments, and that’s really big. He found the right words for it. My condolences to the family. I hope they are ok.”
On Charlton’s passing, Klopp said beforehand: “I don’t think I can add anything. I never met any of them, at least not as far as I know. But being eight years in England now, especially Sir Bobby, I knew him before I arrived here. Yeah, one of the biggest football personalities in English, European and world football. As I said, I can’t add anything, but I feel for the family. I hope they are doing ok.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Sean Dyche and Seamus Coleman paid their own respects to the late chairman, laying a wreath at Goodison Park’s Dixie Dean statue with a note attached that read: “In loving memory of our chairman, our leader, our friend and inspiration. With love and thanks, from everyone at Everton Football Club.”
A message from Blues manager Dyche, posted on the Everton website, also said: “It’s a very sad time for everyone at Everton Football Club to lose our Chairman, someone who has been such an amazing servant to the Club in so many ways.
“His influence in bringing me to Everton in the first place was important and I have nothing but gratitude and respect for his unwavering support of myself, the staff and our players. It was a pleasure to share the moment of reaching our objective last season with him – a moment I know he felt so strongly about after such an arduous season, on and off the pitch.”
Dyche added: “He was an incredible professional, in terms of what he did with Everton and also what he achieved in the theatre industry. Spending time with him and learning about his family, you couldn’t help but be taken by his passion.”
