They deny Klopp, his biggest retractors suggest other reasons for his departure

West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has hinted at a secret reason behind Jürgen Klopp's surprise decision to leave Liverpool. The German boss announced last week that he will depart Anfield at the end of the season. Klopp has had a hugely successful tenure since joining Liverpool in October 2015. He won the Champions League in 2019 and ended the club's long wait for a Premier League title in 2020. And the announcement came at a time when Liverpool remains in the hunt for four trophies this season.

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The Reds face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on February 25 and are still in the running for the FA Cup and Europa League. Wednesday night's 4-1 win over Chelsea also put Liverpool five points clear at the top of the Premier League. Last week, Klopp said he decided to leave Liverpool because he was 'running out of energy' after eight tough years in charge. But Antonio has now claimed that he heard rumors last season about Klopp thinking about his future.

He also thinks that Klopp's sudden departure could be because his family wants to go back home. On the BBC's The Players Channel podcast, he said: "To be fair, I heard on the grapevine last season he was thinking about leaving.

"But after what they did last year and what they are doing this year, I was very surprised to be fair that he has announced he is going. What I heard, and it might not be true, is that his family just wants to go back home to be fair. That's what the rumors were.

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It turned on the fans

"He will be truly missed. He has been unbelievable for the club. You always want the best managers in the league and the fact he is going is a shame." Antonio riled Liverpool fans earlier this season when he suggested West Ham would beat the Reds at Anfield and finish above it in the Premier League. His side was beaten 3-1 in the match, with the striker particularly disappointing.