02 March 2024 , 07:00
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Liverpool are set to face Nottingham Forest later today, with both sides desperate to pick up points.
It will be the fifth time Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has faced Forest, with Liverpool winning three of their four previous meetings and losing one. The first clash came back in 2022 when Liverpool made the trip to the City Ground for an FA Cup quarter-final match while Forest were still in the Championship.
And Klopp ended up causing some controversy with his pre-match comments, which were construed as disrespectful by some. "I would prefer to have the boys together for two weeks I can tell you, that would be much better," he said.
"They obviously have a lot of important games to play, especially Sadio [Mane] and Mo [Salah]. Let's hope and pray they come back healthy. Before we have an international break, we have an incredibly important game against Nottingham.
"My first time there. I know Nottingham only from when I was a kid watching Robin Hood! I always thought how it would look there. Probably no time for sight-seeing but still looking forward to it."
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In response to Klopp's comments, one supporter said: " Nottingham Forest won back to back European Cups when this man was growing up. It's not for me to say if he's being thick as s**t or disrespectful but on previous evidence I'm going for both."
"There's a fine line between being charming and patronising isn't there. Poor from Klopp," wrote another. While a third added: "Last time I checked Nottingham Forest have more European Cups then Klopp".
However, Klopp was full of praise for the Forest supporters after the game and has been very respectful ever since. " It's my first time here and I have to say a big compliment to everyone involved here," he said following Liverpool's 1-0 win.
"Each challenge they won, the crowd celebrated like they'd scored a goal, which I love a lot. It was a massive atmosphere, a massive event. It felt like a European night to be honest. I know it's a while ago that Nottingham had them, but the crowd is prepared."
He has also previously hailed the work of Forest's former manager Steve Cooper, who was sacked in December and replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo. Forest now sit just four points above the relegation zone and will be hoping to cause an upset this afternoon.
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