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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Felix Keith

Why Jurgen Klopp is not leading Liverpool press conference today amid FSG's sale plans

Liverpool are going through a busy period both on and off the pitch, with the 2-1 win over Tottenham on Sunday followed by bombshell news from the boardroom on Monday.

The Reds’ first away win of the season in the Premier League, courtesy of Mohamed Salah's two goals, was followed swiftly by an announcement from Fenway Sports Group that they are looking for investment from third parties in the club.

It is amid this backdrop that Jurgen Klopp’s side are preparing to take on League One side Derby County at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Here Mirror Football explains what is going on around the fixture.

What is happening on Wednesday?

Liverpool are hosting Derby County in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Anfield. The Rams are seventh in League One under manager Paul Warne following their relegation from the Championship under Wayne Rooney last season.

Why is Klopp not doing the press conference?

Jurgen Klopp usually speaks to reporters before Liverpool games (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

As usual, Liverpool will conduct a press conference at 1.30pm on Tuesday ahead of their upcoming fixture. However, it won’t be Reds boss Klopp in the chair at the club’s AXA Training Centre to face the media on Tuesday afternoon.

While Klopp usually fulfils media duties himself, he has often deferred to his assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, for press conferences around Carabao Cup games recently. For example, although Klopp did the press conference before the semi-final against Arsenal, Lijnders spoke to the press before their final against Chelsea at Wembley in February.

The decision to send Lijnders before the Derby match is unrelated to the news from the club’s owners. You can watch the press conference here.

Why does Klopp send Lijnders?

Pep Lijnders often takes Liverpool press conferences (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Klopp has previously had to defend himself against accusations that he does not care enough about the Carabao Cup. “It is not true,” he told reporters in January. "The situation is always around what time of the year is it? Who is available? How many games have they played?

"I cannot just pick a team by looking at the full squad on paper and just pick an 11 for the game based on that. We have to consider a lot of things and we always did that.”

Klopp has been extremely vocal about his belief that the fixture schedule is too packed – and delegating one of his responsibilities to his assistant is one way of easing the load.

What have FSG said?

“There have been a number of recent changes of ownership and rumours of changes in ownership at EPL clubs and inevitably we are asked regularly about Fenway Sports Group’s ownership in Liverpool," the club's owners said in a carefully-worded statement.

“FSG has frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders in Liverpool. FSG has said before that under the right terms and conditions we would consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club.

“FSG remains fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch.”

What does it mean for Liverpool in the short-term?

FSG have reassured fans that they are committed to funding Klopp’s team, but there will be question marks around the club as the January transfer window approaches.

Klopp has made it clear that he thinks his side cannot hope to compete with state-owned clubs. He told reporters last month: "What does Liverpool do? We cannot act like them. It is not possible. Not possible.”

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