“The more I think about it, the more difficult it becomes to understand.”
Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel before his side’s latest league outing, and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson did likewise after their emphatic victory.
Pratt-Korbel was killed by a masked attacker on Monday, in Liverpool. The nine-year-old caught a stray bullet and her mother was shot in the hand during the horrific and tragic incident.
Ahead of Liverpool’s home tie against Bournemouth Jurgen Klopp used his programme notes to touch on ‘a subject of much, much more importance’. He wrote:
Jurgen Klopp embraces Jordan Henderson of Liverpool, at Stade de France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)“Like anyone else who loves Liverpool and its people, I was incredibly shocked by the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Nine years old? How can this happen? How can this happen? How is this even possible?
“I cannot comprehend it and the more I think about it, the more difficult it becomes to understand. That it could happen in a city as special as this one where people look out for one another and stand together makes even less sense.
“I would like to pass on the sympathies of everyone at Liverpool FC to Olivia’s family. They are in my thoughts and prayers and I know this will be the same for so many others as well. There is only one side to be on in this situation and that is the side of Olivia and her family. We are all with them. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Jordan Henderson pays Olivia Pratt-Korbel tribute
All through Liverpool’s thumping, record-equalling 9-0 victory against Bournemouth, Jordan Henderson was paying tribute to the tragic Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
The Reds captain was wearing a top under his jersey that read ‘R.I.P [Rest in Peace] Olivia. Y.K.W.A [You’ll Never Walk Alone]’.
At the full-time whistle, as Liverpool fans rose to acclaim their team, Henderson removed his jersey to reveal the message then kissed his hand and sent a message to the heavens.
No fist pumps from Klopp today, but an ovation worthy of the performance from LiverpooI's fans, and a tribute to Olivia Pratt-Korbel from Jordan Henderson.#LFC 🔴 pic.twitter.com/OIhn8XksMw
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) August 27, 2022
“Very good,” Jurgen Klopp reacted to his side’s first win of the Premier League season. “We wanted to show a reaction. Be ourselves. Getting to be the best version of ourselves. We play a specific way.
“We scored wonderful goals. The game settled and we kept scoring. It was about keep going. Not to humiliate Bournemouth, we couldn’t respect them more.”
