Liverpool manager Klopp 'doesn't like' James Maddison for one key reason

Liverpool put up a sensational 97 points during the course of the 2018-19 Premier League season, then the third-highest total in the league’s history. 

No team has EVER put on more points without winning the title, emphasising just how close the Reds came to toppling an all-conquering Manchester City side that season. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side ultimately finished runners-up to City, suffering their only loss of the season against the Cityzens at the Etihad. A consolation however was to come in the form of a sixth European Cup / Champions League title. 

The race went right down to the wire, with City taking control of the title’s fate at the last minute at the end of a season where top spot in the table exchanged hands 32 times. 

City won at Brighton on the final day, rendering Liverpool’s defeat of Wolves at Anfield irrelevant. 

But heading into the final round of fixtures things could have been so much different. 

In the penultimate game of the season, City required a win against Leicester City at the Eithad in order to maintain control of the title race. 

With 20 minutes to play and with the game still scoreless, City captain Vincent Kompany strode forward and let fly into the top corner, scoring the most unlikely of goals for Guardiola’s team and breaking Kop hearts. 

That was a strike which decided the title race in favour of City, but there is one crucial detail about the goal that even all these years later Klopp is not able to forget. 

The outgoing Liverpool manager, who takes charge of his final game on Sunday, remembers that Foxes playmaker James Maddison FAILED to close down the legendary centre back down, affording him the time and space to lash one home from distance. 

'Since then I don't like Maddison'

The 56-year-old recounted the experience of watching City take advantage in the title race in a paywalled interview with Redmen TV earlier this week, adding that he can’t forgive the England playmaker for not closing Kompany down. 

"The moment when Vincent Kompany touched the ball there, I am really happy I didn't get a stroke in that moment as that's how it must feel,” he said. 

“I remember exactly how I was lying on the sofa watching and thinking: 'Maddison, block him, close him down'. 

“Since then I don't like Maddison. I was angry with Brendan [Rodgers] that day because he should have taken him off, he was tired. 

“Leicester played really good first half, after that they should have scored. It's just a personal thing, I have no problem with him, but when I see him it's... and now I saw him again last weekend."