Jurgen Klopp has stated that he is still the manager of Liverpool “because of the past,” rather than his team’s current record.
Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter were fired on Sunday, making a total of 12 Premier League managers fired this season.
Liverpool are in danger of finishing last in the Premier League under Klopp, whose team visits Chelsea on Tuesday, but his job has yet to be called into question.
Klopp said: “I think the elephant in the room is why I am still sitting here in this crazy world.
“I’m aware of the fact I’m sitting here because of the past and not because of what we did this season.
“If this was my first season it would be slightly different. Yes, we have smart owners who know about the situation. Better ask them why that’s the case.”
Klopp, 55, has guided Liverpool to the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup titles during his seven-and-a-half year tenure at Anfield, making him the Premier League’s longest-serving manager.
The Reds have lost their last three games in all competitions and are currently ninth in the Premier League, the same position they held in 2015-16, the season Klopp took over from previous manager Brendan Rodgers.
Potter’s exit from Chelsea meant that 12 different managers have been axed from their posts during the current campaign.
When quizzed about the mass managerial firing and hiring across the Premier League, Klopp based it on pre-season expectations and underachievement on the field, admitting Liverpool are in the same underperforming bracket this season.
“It’s 12 (managers) this season which is an awful number,” he said. “It is how it is.
“I think there are always years when it happens more than others. Some clubs are underachieving this year and obviously we do.
“Especially when you are in a relegation battle then clubs know how much it means from a financial point of view but you could say similar about getting into the Champions League and not. There are expectations and rightly so, and if you don’t reach them you have to accept the decisions.”
The Liverpool boss is under pressure at Anfield, and when asked about whether he’s feeling the heat after seeing Potter and Brendan Rodgers bite the dust.
He said: “No, but I don’t think Graham was afraid. There’s no need to be afraid. I’m here to deliver. I’m not here as a talisman or for murals on house walls. I’m here to deliver, I know that 100 per cent. There is nothing else in my mind.
“I also know I’m here because of what happened in the last few years. I don’t like the fact I pretty much have to rely on that, but is it right? We will see in the future. I’m fully in, there’s no doubt about it but we have to sort it out. We cannot just continue playing like we do from time to time.”
Liverpool had previously fought Manchester City for the Premier League title in three of the previous four seasons before winning the league for the first time in 30 years in 2019-20.
But, following Saturday’s 4-1 loss against City, they are now 30 points behind current leaders Arsenal.
With 11 games remaining, Klopp’s side are sitting 8th in the Premier League standings, eight points off of the Champions League positions.
Klopp further stated that he must address Liverpool’s current dip in form sooner rather than later.
When asked about the desperate need of a reaction from his team against a managerless Chelsea after their recent humiliation against City.
“As badly as it’s possible.”
“We need it definitely,” he continued. “It was a super strange game. An OK first half and an awful second half. We said it was unacceptable but it happened anyway and now we have to make sure we are ready.
“You cannot really work on the pitch in training. Games like this have a double impact, you might lose even more confidence, but the desire to show a reaction is there as well. The boys are still good people and we want to show a reaction. But the short turnaround is a problem.”
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