UK Edition
Jurgen Klopp cuts short Liverpool press conference after being asked which player he loves
Jurgen Klopp is not a manager easily rattled or wound up away from the touchline, but one journalist pushed his buttons during a press conference ahead of tonight's Champions League encounter in Moscow.
Liverpool take on Spartak Moscow in their second group match this evening, but Klopp was irritated at one throw-away question by the media to preview the contest.
The usually-affable Klopp was asked whether he was in love with any of his players, a reference to Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino saying he loved striker Harry Kane at the weekend.
"I am really impressed that we're in a Champions League press conference and we're talking about things like this," Klopp said.
"I really don't understand the business any more.
When the translator began to recount his answer in Russian Klopp stopped her mid-sentence, saying: "It's not important.
"The question and my answer were not important for Russia it was just an English thing. Pochettino loves Kane and who do I love, that's the question. A waste of time."
With that he walked out and headed off to the team hotel.
Klopp's mood had not been helped by the constant clicking of photographers' cameras and the Russian translator who then began translating his questions before he had finished them.
Loris Karius will start for Liverpool tonight, although Klopp has stressed that Simon Mignolet remains the squad's No 1 keeper.
Karius played in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Sevilla but the Reds manager said that it "doesn't necessarily mean he is the club's first-choice stopper for all Champions League fixtures this season".
Karius is eager to use the Group E match to impress Klopp.
"I just see this as a chance when I get to play, to prove myself to the manager and use this Champions League as a chance for myself to show him I am ready for whatever competition," Karius said.
Liverpool have conceded 18 goals in 10 games overall this season and looking to bolster their defence this evening.
"Of course we scored a lot of goals up front then sometimes we conceded a few. I don't think it's just down to the defence," Karius said.
"I think it's got to do with our style of play, our very offensive style. We sometimes take a few risks in defence."