Klopp Unfazed by Liverpool Sale Talk

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp applauds fans after the match (Reuters)
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp applauds fans after the match (Reuters)
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Klopp Unfazed by Liverpool Sale Talk

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp applauds fans after the match (Reuters)
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp applauds fans after the match (Reuters)

Jurgen Klopp insists he won't fret about talk of Liverpool's owners selling the Premier League club until things are "not positive".

Fenway Sports Group, the Boston-based consortium that owns Liverpool, recently admitted they are looking at potential new investment, sparking reports that they are ready to sell up, AFP said.

The Boston Globe, the newspaper belonging to Liverpool's principal owner John W Henry, reported FSG president Mike Gordon -- the main link between the America-based group and Anfield -- was transferring some of his job responsibilities to Reds chief executive Billy Hogan.

Klopp had already responded to the takeover rumors by stressing his commitment to fulfilling a contract that runs until 2026.

The German has always had a good relationship with the owners but, while he admits a boost to the club's finances would be welcome, he sees no reason to concern himself by what happens next at boardroom level.

"In the structure we had, we were obviously able to spend money, but we always had to look and say 'What did we earn?" Klopp told reporters on Friday.

"The two biggest transfers we did in the past with Ali (Alisson Becker) and Virg (Virgil van Dijk), we all know how it happened, we got some money from Barcelona (£142million for Philippe Coutinho) and spent it wisely, I would say.

"For me, how we did it so far brought us to where we are. But fresh money is no mistake, let me say it like this!

"Nothing gets cheaper, and not only because of the inflation rate. Sometimes you have to spend.

"I have no idea what will happen, but I am positive about it. If in the end it is not positive, then I can start worrying, but I just think everything will be fine."



Neuville Fights Back in Japan to Close on 1st World Title

FIA World Rally Championship - Rally Sweden - Stage 7 of Second Round - Torsby, Sweden - February 15, 2020. Thierry Neuville of Belgium (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) speaks to the media. TT News Agency/Micke Fransson/via REUTERS/File Photo
FIA World Rally Championship - Rally Sweden - Stage 7 of Second Round - Torsby, Sweden - February 15, 2020. Thierry Neuville of Belgium (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) speaks to the media. TT News Agency/Micke Fransson/via REUTERS/File Photo
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Neuville Fights Back in Japan to Close on 1st World Title

FIA World Rally Championship - Rally Sweden - Stage 7 of Second Round - Torsby, Sweden - February 15, 2020. Thierry Neuville of Belgium (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) speaks to the media. TT News Agency/Micke Fransson/via REUTERS/File Photo
FIA World Rally Championship - Rally Sweden - Stage 7 of Second Round - Torsby, Sweden - February 15, 2020. Thierry Neuville of Belgium (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) speaks to the media. TT News Agency/Micke Fransson/via REUTERS/File Photo

Hyundai's Thierry Neuville fought back into the points at the season-ending Rally Japan on Saturday to stand on the cusp of his first world championship.

The Belgian, who needs six points to clinch the title, started the day 15th after a turbo pressure problem but moved up to seventh place to secure four of the required tally provided he finishes on Sunday.

Team mate and closest championship rival Ott Tanak will lead the rally into Sunday's final leg, 38 seconds clear of Toyota's Elfyn Evans, as leaders Hyundai also closed in on the manufacturers' title, Reuters reported.

Toyota's Sebastien Ogier was in third place.

"We’re satisfied that we’ve been able to catch seventh, which didn’t seem very realistic this morning," said Neuville.

"Of course, it could have been a much better weekend result, but I have faced many setbacks in my career and I have learnt to stay calm and deal with the situation.

"I think we managed that very well today, considering we had everything to lose while others had a lot to gain. It could be a big day tomorrow, but there is still a fight and we have to win some more points."

Tanak, the 2019 world champion, won the 13th and 16th stages while Neuville won stages 11 and 14 in the Aichi mountains near Nagoya.

Stage 12 was cancelled for security reasons after a van entered the course and blocked the road while Evans was waiting to start and after six cars had posted times. Police attended the scene and escorted the vehicle away.

"We've had this situation before here, which is challenging," the www.autosport.com, opens new tab website quoted FIA road sport director Andrew Wheatley as saying, calling the breach "very serious".

"Clearly, what's been done in the past has not been good enough and we need to find solutions to go forward. There is no excuse for this."