Jurgen Klopp has defended Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group against accusations of rampant self-interest in the wake of their doomed Project Big Picture initiative.
Premier League clubs voted on Wednesday to reject the proposal, which was devised by key FSG personnel and counterparts from bitter North West rivals Manchester United.
The plan would have seen the League Cup and Community Shield scrapped, the Premier League reduced to 18 teams and English Football League clubs being handed 25% of all future TV deals.
However, chief criticism came with the additional suggestion more power would be transferred to leading clubs such as Liverpool and United.
The Premier League subsequently stated its members had “agreed to work together as a 20-club collective on a strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football”.
And Klopp has dismissed claims FSG are not concerned “about football in general” and is encouraged debate has started on safeguarding the competitiveness of the game in England.
Listen to Klopp's press conference ahead of the Merseyside derby on the Blood Red podcast HERE
“I think it is really important we speak about it,” said the Reds boss. “A lot of times in life there has to be a crisis – not necessarily a virus but a crisis – to start talking and this time I am really happy that people now talk about. it.
“Yes, it (English football) is very competitive and that's positive, no-one wants to change that.
“I am not really in it (the talks), it's not like I was involved, but I can say all the people I know who were involved are concerned about football. Yes, about Liverpool as well, but about football in general as well, that was their intention.
“Other people can make of it what they want. If you want to understand the idea behind it I think it is possible, if you don't want you just knock it down.
“We will play on in football but there are things we can improve and I really think if you always have to improve them now before you see the real problems in the future – that is what these people tried to do.
“I think when the process keeps on going and people are talking about it then it is very positive.”
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