Jurgen Klopp Bemoans Pitch After Third Home Game Without Win

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Jurgen Klopp bemoans Anfield’s pitch after third successive home game without a win. Liverpool made it three home games in a row without a win, held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton for the second time this season.

Jurgen Klopp Bemoans Pitch After Third Home Game Loss

Jurgen Klopp admitted post-match his frustration at the result, but insisted it was a point gained in the race for the top four – a race which still remains in the Reds’ hands thanks to Arsenal beating Man United.

Liverpool’s home form though, failing to beat Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Southampton in consecutive games at Anfield, is a major concern for supporters.

Klopp also highlighted how dry the Anfield pitch was – a pitch that was due to replaced two years ago but has had to wait due to the ongoing construction of the new Main Stand.

“Today the pitch was really dry. We gave all the water we had and after 15 minutes it was really dry. It was difficult and with a lot of passes you could say, ‘Why are they playing this?’.

“In a home game you have to have the best circumstances but we couldn’t have this.”

Liverpool, despite their poor form since January, are still two wins away from qualifying for the Champions League – away to West Ham and at home to Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, Anfield’s pitch will be replaced this summer. In the last two years it was only re-seeded due to the access required by cranes while the new Main Stand was built.

Brendan Rodgers frequently bemoaned the pitch in 2014/15, once describing it as “awful” and saying: “It is an old pitch that has not been upgraded for some years and it can be a disadvantage for us. It is difficult to play one-touch football on it.”

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Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser

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Falmouth Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser. Cornwall Cricket is delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Johnson, Head Greenkeeper at Falmouth Golf Club, and Head Groundsman at Mount Ambrose CC as its new named ECB Pitch Adviser.

Greenkeeper Takes Up Role As ECB Pitch Adviser

Simon has more than thirty years’ relevant experience and has prepared pitches for Minor Counties’ games while at Camborne CC.

Kevin O’Kelly, who has been the ECB Pitch Adviser for the last five years, has agreed to stay on in an active role and assist Simon in his new position.

Simon Menneer, Cornwall Cricket CEO, said: “This is an excellent outcome for Cornish cricket. We have gained the services for the long-term of an outstanding and respected expert in his field, and retained the valuable services of our outgoing Pitch Adviser which will ensure continuity.”

The ECB Pitch Advisory Scheme is funded by Sport England and ECB, and represents the first governing body to address the issue of groundsmanship, in particular at recreational / non-professional level.

The project is to place 45 County Pitch Advisers across England and Wales and for their activities to be fully embraced into the work of County Cricket Boards.

Roles of a Pitch Adviser:

1. To advise on the quality performance of specific pitches / squares and produce recommendations (where necessary) for any improvements, which may include grant aid schemes (Prioritised Detailed Assessment).

2. To monitor the developments of any facilities on which recommendations are being implemented.

3. Available, if required, to assess pitches / squares in respect of various league criteria.

4. Create a response team for basic assessments.

5. Help build an effective Groundmanship Association.’

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