In his own cunning way crafty Jurgen Klopp will have privately infuriated David Moyes ahead of West Ham United’s clash with Liverpool this Sunday.
West Ham are looking to make it four wins in a row when they take on Klopp’s brilliant Liverpool side at the London Stadium.
Do that and Moyes’s Hammers will leapfrog the Reds, possibly into second place depending on the outcome of the Manchester derby.
If Klopp has done a remarkable job at Liverpool then Moyes has worked wonders at West Ham.
Like Klopp’s Liverpool, the foundation of the Scot’s transformation at West Ham has been building the club around young, talented, hard-working players hungry to prove themselves.
And nobody epitomises that more than one of Moyes’s first signings, £20 million Jarrod Bowen.
The former Hull City forward has become a huge fan favourite at West Ham with his work ethic, pace, trickery, goals, assists and attitude.
But it wasn’t just Moyes and West Ham fans Bowen has been impressing.
In the summer Liverpool were heavily linked with a move for the 24-year-old. Indeed The Sun claims West Ham actually rejected a bid from Liverpool, who – the report claims – remain interested.
So it makes these crafty Klopp comments ahead of the West Ham clash infuriating for Moyes.
It is almost impossible not to like Liverpool’s effervescent German. And he is often a breath of fresh air in interviews compared to some of the dour, robotic fayre we get from other rival managers.
But speaking in his pre-match press conference, Klopp – who will be well aware that his interest in Bowen was made public in the summer – decided to pick out the wing-man for special praise.
And the clever cookie knows exactly what he’s doing.
“I like Bowen a lot, he made his way up from, was it Hull, if I’m right?” Klopp said (Liverpool FC).
“And took not too long to get there, to show exactly what kind of player he can be in the Premier League as well, made big steps.”
Some might see them as throwaway comments.
Crafty Jurgen Klopp will have privately infuriated David Moyes with comment on West Ham star
But for West Ham and Moyes this is Klopp fluttering his eyelids at Bowen in a public flirtation that amounts to confirmation of Liverpool’s summer interest.
Is Klopp laying the groundwork for a January or summer bid?
Moyes won’t welcome his Liverpool counterpart’s comments because he won’t want anything to distract his stars from West Ham’s excellent start to the season.
Mind games? Mind your own, Jurgen.
You’re a great manager but keep your mitts off and don’t take brazen liberties talking about other club’s players.
Having said all that let’s hope Bowen proves him right this Sunday.
Come. On. You. Irons.