Raheem Sterling: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says alleged abusers do not deserve 'any respect' if guilty

The Liverpool manager came out in support of Sterling and hailed his reaction to the incident

Northern Football Correspondent

Monday 10 December 2018 14:55

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Raheem Sterling abuse: Black Chelsea fan explains why he didn’t react to alleged racist tirade

Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, has said anyone guilty of racism does not deserve “any respect” after Raheem Sterling was allegedly abused by Chelsea supporters.

Police are currently investigating whether Sterling was abused during the first half of Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday while retrieving the ball for a corner.

Sterling did not react to the alleged abuse at the time of the incident, but wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday that he ”had to laugh” as he expected “no better”.

The former Liverpool winger also claimed that British newspapers are helping to “fuel racism” by the manner in which they portray young black footballers.

Klopp hailed Sterling’s mid-game reaction as “brilliant” and insisted that anyone guilty of racially abusing players should be punished by the authorities.

Chelsea vs Manchester City player ratings

Show all 23

1/23Chelsea vs Manchester City player ratings

Horrendous mistake for the first goal, completely mistiming his punch. Was solid in every other part of his game but matches of this magnitude are often won and lost on the small details.

Terrible first half performance that included three terrible errors that, fortunately for Chelsea, went unpunished. Made up for that with a brilliant pass to find Hazard for the goal and was much better after half-time.

Made one bad error when he got underneath a long ball to allow Aguero through on goal but again proved he is the best English defender out there.

Still has huge room for improvement but the 20-year-old has all the tools to become one of the very best in the world. Deserves to be keeping England's first-choice centre-back on the sidelines.

Jesus Navas had the better of his compatriot all evening. Azpilicueta was beaten in a way Chelsea fans have not often seen.

Stepped up his game in the absence of Fabregas to put in a complete midfield performance. Truly great on and off the ball, the giant Serbian was the best player on the park.

Held his position well as the holding midfielder and only made the occasional burst forward, Ramires was very good but its hard to argue that the Blues missed the wizardry of Cesc Fabregas.

Hassled and harried his way through the 90 minutes, Willian was excellent in the defensive and middle thirds of the field but produced little to nothing in areas where he could do damage. Set-pieces delivery was also poor.

Another who failed to produce in the final third, Oscar played deeper than he has done for the most part this season which blunted his effectiveness

Brilliant in the first 45, causing all sorts of problems for Bacary Sagna but was extremely quiet after the break as City closed off the space around the dangerous Belgian.

Was brilliant in the lone striker role, holding the ball up well to bring his team-mates into the game. Great movement to find space for the goal, it was a shame for Chelsea that the trio behind him starved the striker of service.

Nothing he could do about the goal and was hardly tested otherwise by the home side. Looked reasonably solid throughout, bar one dodgy kick.

Struggled in the first half against Hazard but grew into it as it went on, to snuff out the Hazard threat. Combined excellently with Jesus Navas. Lost Hazard for the goal.

Defender manfully, though he wasn't always the most comfrotable in possession. In truth, Chelsea didn't offer much threat.

Had an excellent match but went to sleep to allow Loic Remy to steal into yards of space for the goal.

Didn't put a foot wrong on the left and never gave Willian the chance to do anything of note in the final third. Offered a good outlet going forward as well.

Was one of the best City performers with a display full of energy and purpose. Pushed the visitors forward, passed well and was not averse to stopping Chelsea by any means necessary.

Gave Matic as good as he got in midfield and provided the City defence with superb cover throughout the game.

Gave Cesar Azpilicueta the hardest game he's played all season but for all the occasions he beat his opposite number he failed to deliver that telling ball.

Barely troubled Ivanovic as an attacking force but you can't downplay his importance to the City cause as a worker and defender.

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Was not able to offer his usual craft when in possession as he was well marshalled by Matic and Ramires, but got an absolutely vital touch to turn Aguero's shot past Ivanovic.

Five games since returning from injury and the usually lethal striker is misfiring. Latched on to a Terry mistake to race through on goal for a chance that a pre-injury Aguero would have tucked away - he fired wide.

The stage looked set for another Lampard goal against his former club but it was not to be. Given a great ovation at the end from his former supporters.

Getty Images

“Well, I watched the game obviously and I saw the situation when Raheem went for the corner,” the Liverpool manager said. “I saw a few guys shouting. I don’t think it was possible to hear what they were shouting, I didn’t hear it.

“I already thought his reaction was just brilliant. You saw his face. He gave the right response – not to react to these people. They haven’t earned any reaction, they don’t deserve any respect or whatever.

“I’m obviously not surprised that things like this still happen. It will not stop now only because we talk about it, but I like the fact that we put a finger on it. You cannot say what you want, it’s not possible.”

Ahead of Liverpool’s meeting with Napoli at Anfield on Tuesday night, Klopp drew a parallel with the treatment of Kevin-Prince Boateng, who walked off the pitch after suffering racist abuse while playing for Milan during a friendly against Pro Patria in 2013.

“We’ve had a similar situation in Germany, in other countries as well. In Italy, with Boateng stopped the game because of what people shouted from the stands,” Klopp said. “They need to be punished. As long as people are silly enough to do stuff like this they need to be punished.

“What I like is that – I’m not sure but 95 per cent or more of the people are not like this, so we should try to find the right amount of tension. Yes, punish them but don’t talk too much about them because they don’t deserve to be talked about.”

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