After pally pre-match chats between the pair Jurgen Klopp will be furious with what West Ham boss David Moyes is planning to do to Liverpool.
A feature of recent clashes between West Ham and Liverpool over the last couple of years has been an unlikely friendship between Klopp and Moyes.
The duo may have very different football philosophies based on the style of their teams on the pitch.
But when West Ham and Liverpool face one another Klopp and Moyes are often spotted engaged in lengthy discussions on the pitch pre-match.
Indeed Moyes revealed Klopp even offered advice on how to beat Sevilla in the Europa League knockouts last season.
So after their pally pre-match chats Klopp will be furious with what West Ham boss Moyes is planning to do to Liverpool.
The Reds have been trying to get Naby Keita to sign a new contract for some time. Liverpool signed Keita for £48m in 2018 and his deal expires next summer.
According to journalist Christian Falk, Keita is refusing to discuss any new deal with Liverpool until January at the earliest and is refusing to entertain being used as a makeweight in any deal to bring Jude Bellingham to Anfield in the winter window.
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg and Sky Sports also claim Keita is unhappy and wants to leave.
Now it seems Moyes – who has been linked with a move for Keita in the past – is hoping to play the long game and sign Keita on a free transfer next summer.
That is not to suggest there is anything underhand going on. And both Newcastle and Milan are said to be interested too.
There are strict rules to stop clubs tapping players up. But we all know how these things work in the real world.
If West Ham let it be known to the player’s representatives that they are ready and waiting to take Keita on good money and bring him to London with a much greater guarantee of game time, then it may put paid to any Liverpool hopes of changing his mind over an Anfield extension.
Klopp may well feel somewhat betrayed by his unlikely pal Moyes if West Ham manage to pull that off.
But don’t feel too sorry for the big German.
After all he has completely done the Hammers manager over twice in the transfer market recently.
It was well publicised in January that West Ham were trying hard to sign Darwin Nunez (Sky Sports). The move did not happen and and Liverpool pounced to sign Nunez this summer, completely pricing West Ham out of any chance of a deal.
To rub salt in the wound, Nunez duly scored the winner when the Reds welcomed West Ham to Anfield last week and he officially became the fastest player in Premier League history in the same game.
It was the second West Ham move Klopp had hijacked after Liverpool snatched Luis Diaz from under Moyes’ nose in January with the Scot believing he had the Colombian all but signed (Sky Sports).
Even Klopp himself admitted West Ham’s move to sign Diaz forced Liverpool to act.
Well now West Ham can get a measure of revenge by taking Liverpool’s once record signing to the London Stadium for nothing.
All the player has to do is wait it out at Anfield for the rest of the season. If that happens, it will be interesting to see whether Moyes and Klopp remain as pally when their clubs meet in the future.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
West Ham finalising winter Betway Cup mini-tournament as Moyes devises plan.
Moyes wants £48m man from rivals for free but there’s a big problem.
Hilarious video shows Moyes blank presenter after Man United comment.