Jurgen Klopp has defended Liverpool’s decision to request to postpone the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal.
After a Covid outbreak at the club, who were forced to briefly shut their training ground, the EFL confirmed the first leg would instead be played on Thursday January 13.
Klopp, writing in his programme notes ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup meeting with Shrewsbury Town, moved to downplay any suggestion the decision was anything other than necessary given the Covid situation. Both the German and assistant Pep Ljinders will miss the tie due to testing positive.
“It is not something we sought lightly and anyone who thinks otherwise clearly ignores how we have conducted ourselves as a club during this period.
“We have always looked to play, if feasible to do so.
“For the game that would have been Thursday this week just gone, it was impossible. We asked for the game to be moved because we had no choice. It is the first time we have made such an appeal and we did so because we could not field a team.”
