Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool’s owners are keen to heal their rift with the club’s fans after the Anfield walkout protest over ticket prices.
An estimated 10,000 Reds supporters made a 77th-minute departure, timed to relate to the £77 ($112, 99 euros) it will cost for the most expensive match ticket at Anfield next season, during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland.
Liverpool manager Klopp was not at the Premier League fixture as he was undergoing emergency surgery on an appendix problem.
But having been prevented from answering questions about the pricing structure before the match the German now says he has sympathy with supporters and expects US-based owners Fenway Sports Group to find a solution.
“I heard about this problem but I’ve had a lot of things to do in the last few weeks, but now I know it is my problem too, of course,” Klopp said on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s FA Cup fourth round replay at West Ham.
“But everything I could say about this now would make it more complicated because first of all I have to collect a few bits of information.
“What I know is everyone in the club has a big interest in finding a solution for this.
“It is not what we want, we don’t want the people leaving the stadium before the game is finished.
“That is all I can say about this, but of course when I heard it (the walkout) I was disappointed.”
The club have cancelled a question and answer session with chief executive Ian Ayre scheduled to be broadcast on the club’s television station on Monday evening as the row over ticket prices continues.
“LFC thanks fans for submitting questions for tonight’s Q&A however due to ongoing ticketing discussions, this will no longer take place,” said a statement on the club’s Twitter account.
Klopp was back at work after his surgery scare over the weekend having decided he was healthy enough to be involved in preparations for the West Ham clash.
“I feel good and I am back in the race,” Klopp said.
“I figured if I feel bad I should stay at home, but I feel good.
“If I am not fit then I cannot help here and I would be at home. Everything is okay and we don’t have to talk about this any more.
“I am very thankful for our doc (club medic Andy Massey) because he said we should go to hospital — I was not too sure — and the surgeon was great, a season ticket-holder who told me we both didn’t want to see the game, I had the best nurses and everything was okay.” – Agence France-Presse
