---
title: "Souness points finger of blame at Klopp"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/souness-points-finger-of-blame-at-klopp/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Rebecca Hawksworth"
section: "Articles"
published: "2018-11-07T11:52:35Z"
modified: "2018-11-07T11:52:35Z"
---

# Souness points finger of blame at Klopp

Graeme Souness has pointed the finger of blame for Liverpool’s defeat to Red Star last night at manager Jurgen Klopp, the [Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-news-transfers-live-reds-15369681) reports.

Red Star’s Milan Pavkov hit the back of the net in the first half twice to condemn the Reds to defeat, and Klopp faced a large amount of criticism post-match for his team selection for the game.

When asked what went wrong for his old club, Souness said:

> I think not starting with Firmino or Joe Gomez.

> The fact they were on the bench and came on half time suggests they were fine so it wasn’t them carrying something.

> I think the message it sends to the rest of the players was, ‘You won 4-0 last time we’ll be fine again tonight.’

> I’m of the belief you start with your strongest team, get the game won and then get off the players you want to rest.

![Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2018/11/1058411228.jpg)

> I think that message by not picking your strongest team to start with would have an effect with some of the players who did start.

> They weren’t at it. They didn’t start right and when you don’t start right, it really is an uphill battle to get the momentum back again.

> I felt they handed the momentum to Red Star and they managed to keep it for the rest of the game.

> They’re not at the level they were at last year, Liverpool.