We’ve become accustomed to Jurgen Klopp’s post-match interviews being sources of terrific entertainment since he arrived on the banks of the Mersey last October.
But, in the wake of having thrown a 2-0 lead away and one of his main defenders being investigated after testing positive for a banned substance, he cut an understandably more sombre figure.
Liverpool looked to be cruising, having returned to the dressing room at half-time with a two goal advantage but they were pegged back by a plucky Newcastle side who, under Rafael Benitez, look to have found a new lease of life in their relegation battle.
And after the game, there was only one question on everybody’s lips as we all wondered what Klopp would have to say about the pre-game news of Mamadou Sakho’s failed drug test.
Liverpool had released a statement earlier in the day, prior to kick-off, and Klopp refused to be drawn on discussing his centre-half any further.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO33LwvtSgo
“I could (explain why Sakho didn’t start) but I think you know already,” he said.
“It makes more sense that you tell the perfect words and not mine but from the official statement of the club and I think with respect to all in the situation, to the player and to everything, I should not say more. I do not know enough to say more but there’s an official statement and maybe you should use this.”
The subject came up too in the larger press conference in which it emerged that the German had yet to speak to Sakho about the revelation but admitted that he knew about the investigation since Friday at the team hotel.
Klopp said: “I’m really limited in what I can say. There is an official statement from the club and there’s nothing else to say in this moment.
“I’ve had no chance (to speak to him). I’ve known since yesterday when we went to the hotel.
“It’s not the most easy situation that’s for sure but all we could say about this we will say next week when we know more probably.”
