Jurgen Klopp shared details of his post-match conversation with Ivan Toney after Liverpool’s 4-1 triumph over Brentford. He disclosed that Toney extended his well wishes for Klopp’s future endeavours.
The scoring commenced with Darwin Nunez’s elegant chip, breaking the deadlock in the 35th minute. Second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah, and Cody Gakpo secured a comprehensive victory for the visitors.
Although Toney managed a 75th-minute consolation goal for Brentford, it was a fleeting moment of brightness for Thomas Frank’s team, who face a daunting midweek fixture against reigning champions Manchester City following three defeats in four matches.
The outcome restored Liverpool’s five-point lead at the summit of the Premier League table, prompting understandable elation from Klopp. However, potential injuries to Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, and Nunez tempered the jubilation surrounding the win.
Toney, who recently came back from an eight-month suspension due to gambling violations, scored his second-half goal in his usual fashion, marking his fourth goal in five matches for the currently in-form forward.
The England international has openly expressed his desire to play for a “top club,” and photos of him engaged in conversation with Klopp after the game sparked excitement among some Liverpool fans on social media, especially considering Toney’s lifelong support for the Reds.
When questioned about his conversation with Toney, Klopp told reporters: “I was more smiling at him. He’s obviously quite a handful and really tricky. I used a different word but it’s really tricky to play against him, obviously.
“Am I right in thinking he’s a Liverpool supporter? He’s not shy in saying that, so we spoke a little bit about that and he wished me good luck for my time after these things here.
“A lot of players have said it but it’s nice anyway. But nobody has to worry, I will find something!
“So that was it, it was a nice conversation. I had it with [Vitaly] Janelt as well.”
The Liverpool manager added: “That is the strange thing in football. This is probably one of the nicest teams, nicest coaching staff of everything you can face.
“But you play against them and you want to knock them down every five seconds because it’s just annoying.
“It’s really like that. Everything is set up to make you really look rubbish. But around that, it’s a great club, I like everything about them, just not playing them!’
Toney, who garnered significant interest from Chelsea and Arsenal during the January transfer window, expressed his allegiance to Liverpool during an episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast last year.
“I’ve been a Liverpool fan my whole life but, from young, I’ve liked watching Arsenal and how they play,’ he said.
“But yeah, I’m a Liverpool boy, a Liverpool fan at heart.”
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