'Now I don't like James Maddison' - Jurgen Klopp jokingly explains why he holds grudge against Tottenham star

Maddison was part of the Leicester side which lost 1-0 to Manchester City in the penultimate game of that season, Vincent Kompany's late stunner at the Etihad providing crucial as the Cityzens pipped Liverpool to the crown. The Reds finished with an astonishing points total of 97 but were still left one short of Pep Guardiola's side.

Klopp believes one of the key reasons behind Kompany's title-winning strike was Maddison's failure to close down the Belgian centre-back. The German coach claims Brendan Rodgers should have taken off the "tired" England international, who joined Tottenham in a big-money million deal last summer.

Klopp told Redmen TV: "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. 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."

Liverpool's points tally of 97 in 2018/19 is the fourth-highest in Premier League history and yet they somehow still did not win the title. The Reds suffered just one defeat that season, a 2-1 loss at the Etihad which ultimately proved fatal.

Klopp will say farewell to Liverpool when they host Wolves on Sunday and it is set to be an emotional event at Anfield. Arne Slot is lined up as his replacement and filling the void left behind by the German icon will be a task of unenviable difficulty.