Liverpool move to clarify claims over Klopp’s assistant

Liverpool have moved to clarify reports that Jurgen Klopp’s assistant has tendered his resignation.

The Daily Record claimed on Monday that Zeljko Buvac, who has worked with Klopp for 17 years, stepped down from his role just days before the Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma on Wednesday.

But Liverpool have wasted little time in denying those claims – although they have confirmed that Buvac will be absent for the rest of the season.

The Reds have briefed a number of journalists, including James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, to inform them that Buvac ‘hasn’t stepped down but is spending some time away from the club due to personal reasons’.

They have confirmed that Buvac ‘remains an employee’ of the club, and that they consider the matter to be ‘private’.

Couple of thoughts on Buvac. Him and Klopp have had huge rows before but always made up. This might not be the end of the story. Short term effect is negligible but Klopp will want somebody else to bounce ideas off next season if he doesn’t come back.

— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) April 30, 2018