Jermaine Jenas has described Jurgen Klopp's comments regarding extra protection for players as 'disappointing' and believes the Liverpool manager should be backing the new changes introduced by the Premier League.
The threshold for awarding penalties has been raised after a record 125 spot-kicks were dished out last season, while officials have also been encouraged to allow the game to flow more freely as opposed to continuously flagging for fouls.
Klopp discussed this change in approach after the Reds' 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday afternoon and raised concerns that players may end up being injured unnecessarily due to more situations going unpunished than before.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp calls for Premier League change after 'dangerous situations' during Liverpool win
Speaking after yesterday's victory at Anfield, the Liverpool boss said: "Honestly I love football and these different kinds of challenges but we came from protecting players slightly more to 'let the game flow more'. There is a grey area and we will for sure have to adapt during the season."
Jenas was quick to pick up on Klopp's remarks in relation to the rule changes and was surprised by his reaction.
Explaining his stance on the situation and why the Liverpool manager should be careful what he wishes for, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder told BBC Radio Five Live:
"If anything we had gone too far the other way with constant whistle blowing for fouls and we forgot that end-to-end game of football that is the Premier League - it's been a welcome addition to me.
"Jurgen Klopp is the first person I've heard saying he wants it to go back to how it was - which is disappointing."
Jenas added: "The referees have taken so much criticism in the past couple of years for the way that the game has gone with VAR and the way they referee the game and they've reacted in the right way I think.
"We need the big characters like Klopp to get behind it - but he obviously felt today was too physical a game for his two centre-halves and that's his opinion."
