---
title: "Richard Dunne claims Jurgen Klopp is ‘distracted’ this season"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/richard-dunne-claims-jurgen-klopp-is-distracted-this-season/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-01-09T07:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-09T07:00:00Z"
---

# Richard Dunne claims Jurgen Klopp is ‘distracted’ this season

[Former Manchester City defender](https://www.premierleague.com/players/1184/Richard-Dunne/stats) Richard Dunne has claimed that [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/01/08/liverpool-fans-aston-villa-fa-cup-young-lineup/) manager [Jurgen Klopp](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/01/08/jurgen-klopp-hints-that-he-has-made-a-mistake-with-takumi-minamino/) has taken his eye off the ball this season and isn’t having the same effect on his team as in previous years.

In his column in the [Irish Independent](https://www.independent.ie/sport/columnists/klopp-has-taken-his-eye-off-the-ball-and-opened-the-door-for-city-revival-39944465.html), the 41-year-old said that the German needs to stop getting distracted by matters outside of his control and concentrate on getting results again, with the Reds [failing to win their last three Premier League games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-liverpool/spielplan/verein/31).

Dunne wrote: ”Whether it’s intentional or not, the demeanour of a manager is reflected in his team. If the manager is happy and focused, his team will be the same. I looked at Jurgen Klopp last season, his positivity and energy, and I look at him now and see him fighting with people.”

The former Republic of Ireland international added that Klopp has looked ‘distracted’, citing his rants over [substitutes](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12166101/jurgen-klopp-ask-the-premier-league-clubs-who-voted-against-the-five-substitutions-per-match-rule) and [penalties awarded to Manchester United](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12179737/is-liverpool-boss-jurgen-klopps-man-utd-penalty-claim-correct) as traits not befitting his usual self.

Klopp’s side have certainly faced more problems this season than last as their [injury-ravaged](https://www.90min.com/posts/liverpool-defence-breakdown-of-the-reds-injury-crisis-return-timelines) defence [takes its toll](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) on their Premier League title retention bid.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Klopp has undoubtedly become a little prickly of late, but perhaps that is to be expected given what’s on his plate in terms of [injuries within his squad](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/liverpool-injury-crisis-jurgen-klopp-23085139).

However, this change in attitude may be a method of [taking the pressure off his players](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-liverpool-injuries-fixtures-19409247) and get people talking about him instead, which seems to be working if Dunne’s column is anything to go by.