Wayne Rooney questions timing of Klopp announcement after Liverpool meltdown

Liverpool have slipped out of contention for the FA Cup, the Europa League and now, crucially, the Europa League in the last few weeks. 

And up until the beginning of April, it even looked like the Reds could finish the season with a unique treble.

Although Manchester United eliminated the Merseysiders from the FA Cup back in March, they were still in contention for the Europa League and the Premier League having already claiming the Carabao Cup.

Nightmare results however followed against United in the league, Atalanta in the Europa League and against Crystal Palace at home again in the Premier League.

Liverpool went into the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday night knowing three points were vital and no more slip-ups could be entertained.

They were beaten 2-0 with the goals coming from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Liverpool's season now all but over.

Jurgen Klopp announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, leading many fans to fantasise about giving their beloved manager the send-off he deserved.

After nine years and many major honours in the shape of the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Champions League and more, Klopp would have a genuine shot at leaving on a high.

It's not worked out like that and now the 56-year-old's decision to reveal his departure has come into question.

Former Everton and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was the matchday pundit for the Everton v Liverpool game on Sky Sports and floated the Klopp issue in a post-match chat with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher.

Everyone's saying 'Fairytale ending'

Talking to Carragher when the former defender was questioning the form of Darwin Nunez, Rooney said: "Do you not question the timing of it getting released that Klopp's leaving the club? Because over the last few weeks or the last couple of months, everyone's saying 'fairytale ending' - all stuff like that.

"But the minute it goes wrong, I think you have to look at that timing. I think with Nunez, maybe with Salah, van Dijk as well.

"These players are looking - Klopp's so popular, even as an Everton fan I really like Jurgen Klopp - with him leaving the club, in their heads they'll be thinking 'what does my future hold? Am I still gonna be a Liverpool player? Do I still want to be a Liverpool player?'

"I think that's something you can look at."