Jurgen Klopp will be free to join Liverpool’s on-pitch tributes to their four departing stars despite observing a touchline ban for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, Express Sport understands. The Reds are due to bid farewell to Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita and will celebrate the quartet’s contributions to the club after the match.
However, there had been concerns among fans that Klopp might not be allowed to take part. On Thursday, an independent commission found the German to be in breach of the Football Association’s Rule E3 following comments he made about referee Paul Tierney in April.
Express Sport understands that Klopp will be allowed on the pitch in the aftermath of the game, though, with players and staff set to thank the Anfield crowd for their support at their final home match of the campaign. The touchline ban only applies when the match is in process.
Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner and Keita are all set to be involved for Liverpool at Anfield for the final time. The Merseyside outfit confirmed that the quartet will leave when their contracts expire on June 30.
A club statement read: “With the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday being the Reds’ final home fixture of the campaign, special acknowledgements will be paid to the quartet at Anfield, with further tributes to follow across the club’s digital platforms after the end of the season as we wish Roberto, Naby, James, Alex and their families the very best for the future.”
Klopp has been handed a two-match touchline ban – with one suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season – for implying that referee Tierney has a negative ‘history’ with Liverpool. The 55-year-old was yellow-carded by the official towards the end of Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Tottenham on April 30.
The Reds head coach sprinted towards and celebrated Diogo Jota’s 94th-minute winner in front of fourth official Jonathan Brooks. He was booked by Tierney and later alleged that the referee’s comments were “not okay”, something he later regretted.
Tierney was found to have said to Klopp: “Right, I have to show you yellow. It could be red, but I am going to show you yellow. He (Brooks) said yellow. We will give you the benefit of the doubt, don’t do anything more.”
Klopp will watch Liverpool’s game against Villa from the stands, although it is understood that he can still engage with his players in the dressing room. The former Borussia Dortmund manager was also fined £75,000, and the extra game is suspended on the condition that he does not repeat the breach before the end of the 2023-24 season.
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