Jürgen Klopp has told Dejan Lovren and Simon Mignolet he would “never let them down” but admitted the pair must wait to discover whether they will face Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
The Liverpool central defender and goalkeeper were both culpable for a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, when Lovren suffered the ignominy of being substituted after 31 minutes. In an interview for Saturday’s Football Focus, Klopp declined to say whether the duo will be dropped for their poor performances at Wembley. But he insisted they retain his support and should ignore the criticism that has flowed their way since Sunday.
“We will see, that is our job,” said the Liverpool manager when asked about dropping the players against David Wagner’s team at Anfield. “That is the world out there - if you find someone who makes a mistake, we go on him. We all make a mistake. I would never let them down. Never would that happen.
“I hope they were smart enough not to read it (criticism). I am 50 and I am clear I don’t read it. It does not help. It makes no sense. Should I read someone say I do not have a clue about football? It would be good if the boys do the same. On the other side it is not the biggest problem in the world. If people say we made a mistake - if people say that - we knew before. It is about reacting. If you do not feel well you have to change the situation. That is what we have to do.”
Loris Karius will be in line to replace Mignolet in goal on Saturday as Danny Ward, who was on loan at Huddersfield last season, has suffered a back injury. Ward could be sidelined for several weeks with the problem, costing him the opportunity to replace Wayne Hennessey in the Wales’ goal for next month’s international friendlies against France and Panama.