Published: September 25, 2021 8:27 pm
Last Updated: September 25, 2021 8:31 pm
Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear was not shy in taking aim at Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in the club’s latest matchday programme, as the fallout to Harvey Elliott’s serious injury rumbles on.
Reds dealt blow
The name of midfielder Elliott has of course taken centre stage in the English media over the last couple of weeks.
Unfortunately for both Liverpool and the 18-year-old, though, this has come for all the wrong reasons.
Jurgen Klopp and co. made the trip to Elland Road for a Premier League showdown with Leeds a fortnight ago, eyeing a spot alongside Manchester United and Chelsea at the Premier League’s summit.
And, when all was said and done in West Yorkshire, this is precisely what the Reds managed, courtesy of a fully deserved 3-0 win.
“He joins the club in the Premier League!”
Mohamed Salah’s 100th Premier League goal puts Liverpool in front against Leeds!
📺 #LEELIV on Sky Sports PL or follow: https://t.co/f369wKlXlC pic.twitter.com/dAeuAQxuEZ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 12, 2021
Putting a major damper on an otherwise fine day’s work for Liverpool, however, was a serious injury picked up by the aforementioned Elliott.
After what appeared on first viewing as a fairly innocuous challenge on the part of Leeds’ Pascal Struijk in the middle of the park, it quickly became clear that Elliott had come out the worse.
In turn, following a lengthy stoppage in play, the midfield talent was stretchered from the pitch, amid deep concern on the part of players, fans and coaching staff alike.
It was subsequently confirmed that Elliott suffered a dislocated ankle at Elland Road, forcing the 18-year-old under the knife:
Harvey Elliott has been released from Leeds General Infirmary and has returned home. He will require surgery on his left ankle in the coming days. Operation likely to be on Tuesday. #LFC https://t.co/WeHKm9MGdr
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) September 12, 2021
‘Humbly request…’
As outlined above, though, the fallout stemming from Elliott’s injury did not end there.
Leeds, owing to the clear lack of intent in Struijk’s challenge, swiftly launched an appeal to the Premier League, in an attempt to have the defender’s 3-match ban overturned.
But the efforts of the Whites were eventually rebuffed, with Struijk, as a result, having been forced to sit out his side’s last three fixtures.
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott receives treatment after picking up a bad injury following a challenge by Leeds United’s Pascal Struijk during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds. Picture date: Sunday September 12, 2021. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
And, if the latest comments on the part of Leeds’ chief executive are anything to go by, then, evidently, at least some element of hard feelings remains.
Taking to the column section of the club’s latest matchday programme ahead of their meeting with West Ham United, Peacocks board member Angus Kinnear made clear his feelings that Jurgen Klopp played a central role in the initial decision for Struijk to be given his marching orders two weeks ago.
Kinnear began:
‘I believe we made a compelling case a tackle that was not even viewed as a foul by any of the officials, the opposing players, and a crowd of 37,000 could retrospectively be deemed a dismissal on the strength of an assessment of the seriousness of the injury.’
‘One of the panel of three agreed there is an inherent risk to the welfare of a player in every challenge and therefore the tackle was not serious foul play.’
‘Conversely, the remaining two delegates did not agree.’
‘They argued it was an obvious refereeing error and may have inadvertently set a precedent any serious injuries that occur during physical contact must be met with disciplinary action.’
The jibe in question came in his conclusion, though, with the Leeds chief having added:
‘Following the panel’s decision we were left with no other recourse than to humbly request to the Premier League opposing head coaches are not selected to officiate any more of our games for the remainder of this season.’
Angus Kinnear, not so subtly, takes aim at Jurgen Klopp’s role in Pascal Struijk’s red card earlier this month. #lufc https://t.co/WrU7e4GUB7
— Leeds United Live (@liveleedsunited) September 25, 2021
The Diogo Jota problem & 3 key talking points as Liverpool held by brilliant Brentford
Leeds fans take aim at Marcelo Bielsa over repeated personnel mistake following West Ham defeat
Liverpool betting odds, next game:
Liverpool vs Man City odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
Liverpool’s latest videos
Jürgen Klopp’s pre-match press conference | Brentford
Watch live as the boss speaks to the media ahead of the Reds’ trip…
2021-09-24T10:04:54Z
Inside Training: Five-a-side as Liverpool FC Women prepare for Crystal Palace
Watch as Matt Beard’s Reds train at the Solar campus ahead of the weekend’s…
2021-09-24T07:00:02Z
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Chelsea FC | 5 | 11 | 13 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 5 | 11 | 13 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 5 | 9 | 13 |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 5 | 10 | 10 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | -3 | 9 |
| 8 | West Ham United | 5 | 4 | 8 |
| 9 | Brentford FC | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 11 | Watford FC | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 5 | -3 | 6 |
| 13 | Arsenal FC | 5 | -7 | 6 |
| 14 | Crystal Palace | 5 | -3 | 5 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 5 | -7 | 3 |
| 18 | Newcastle United | 5 | -7 | 2 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 5 | -6 | 1 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 5 | -12 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 5 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Gudmundsson, Johann | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rudiger, Antonio | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 0 | 2 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 2 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
