Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, has suggested he will only pay his £75,000 Football Association fine if the money goes to a “good cause”. The German said he would “like to know” and “if it does, I’m happy to pay it. If it doesn’t, we need to talk again”. Klopp received the fine and a two-match ban for comments he made about referee Paul Tierney after a 4-3 win over Tottenham. He will be sitting in the stands for his side’s final home match of the season, and will be working with coach Vitor Matos and assistant Pep Lijnders to ensure the players get the right instructions. Klopp served a one-match ban at Anfield in November after receiving a red card in a match against Manchester City. He joked that his voice could still reach his players from the stand if necessary. Klopp was shown a yellow card for celebrating Liverpool’s 94th-minute winner in front of the fourth official during their 4-3 Premier League victory over Spurs on 30 April. He later claimed what Tierney said to him was “not OK” and that the official had “something against” the Reds. Klopp apologised for the comments made but was handed the fine and a two-match ban. The second game of that ban is suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season, providing Klopp does not reoffend, meaning he will not miss the final game of this campaign against Southampton.
Following Liverpool’s last home match of the season, fans will be able to say goodbye to James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who the club announced this week will be leaving Anfield. Despite his ban, Klopp will be allowed on to the pitch after the match to take part in the tributes. He said, “This game is difficult for different reasons. We spoke with the boys this week about it. It’s super important for us and super emotional. We really say goodbye to, in my point of view, four Liverpool legends.” All four were part of the side that won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League in 2019-20. Klopp said, “Two of them were here when I arrived, Milly and Bobby – nothing good in the last few years would have happened without them. All four won pretty much each available trophy and we love them, but it’s professional football and nothing is forever. It means one chapter will be closed and we can start writing a new one. That’s good for them and for us. I will be forever thankful to them.”