Liverpool legend criticizes Jurgen Klopp over 'naughty' comments that 'didn't help' Arne Slot

Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has questioned Jurgen Klopp's recent podcast comments about a potential Anfield return, suggesting the remarks were unhelpful amid speculation around current manager Arne Slot

Jurgen Klopp speaks during an interview(Image: RONNY HARTMANN, AFP via Getty Images)

Phil Thompson has responded to Jurgen Klopp's surprising admission that he could potentially return to manage Liverpool in the future. The German manager departed Anfield at the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign, bringing to an end a nine-year tenure that delivered both Premier League and Champions League glory.

After a six-month hiatus from football, the 58 year old returned to the sport in January 2025, though not in a managerial capacity, having accepted the role of head of global soccer at Red Bull. Since his Liverpool exit, Klopp has consistently emphasized in various interviews that he harbors no desire to return to the daily grind of coaching.

However, during an appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp conceded that a future comeback to the Liverpool managerial position isn't entirely off the cards.

He said: "I said I will never coach a different team in England. So that means if [Klopp returns] it's Liverpool. So yeah, theoretically it's possible. I love what I do right now, I don't miss coaching. I don't. I mean I do coach, just different, not players.

"And I don't miss it. I don't miss standing in the rain two-and-a-half, three hours. I don't miss going to press conference three times a week, having 10-12 interviews a week. I don't miss that. I don't miss being in the dressing room in the sense that I don't have it often enough, I coached 1,080 something games."

He added: "So, I was in the dressing room very, very often. I'm 58, that's from your perspective, old from the other side, it's not that old. That means I could make the decision in a few years. I don't know."

"[If] I had to make the decision today, I won't coach again but thank God I don't have to do that. I can just see what the future brings."

Phil Thompson.(Image: YouTube)

Klopp's remarks were subsequently analysed by Thompson and Sam Allardyce on the latest instalment of the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, with the former criticising the decision to air such views publicly.

"I thought that was naughty and that was a couple of weeks ago," former Liverpool skipper Thompson stated. "I thought him being asked the question like that didn't help Arne [Slot] who was then under a lot of pressure.

"[His comments] came three or four games into the [unbeaten] run and I thought 'why have you said that Jurgen'. It got a lot of traction and I was going 'no', we've been there and you hear that thing when you're in there. I'm not saying it won't happen and it's not right."

Liverpool manager Arne Slot needs a victory against Marseille(Image: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Liverpool is presently enjoying a 10-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League. Nevertheless, a string of unconvincing performances during that period has maintained the pressure on manager Arne Slot, especially following Xabi Alonso's departure from Real Madrid last week - with the Spaniard having been linked with a switch to Liverpool in 2024.

Slot was asked about rumours linking Alonso with a potential Anfield comeback. In reply, the Dutch manager delivered a cheeky response: "Yes he called me and said: 'What do you think about the team because I am going to take over in six months, can you tell me a little bit more?'"

"Or maybe earlier. Maybe he takes over tomorrow! No, no, no. This is one of the weirdest questions I ever got. What is there it say? I am working here for a little bit more than one and a half years and I really like my work over here. We won the league last season, struggled more in the league this season. That is also obvious, so yes what is there left to say?"