Jurgen Klopp believes there was "no reason" for the BBC to tell Gary Lineker to step aside from hosting Match of the Day after the presenter became involved in a political row on social media.
The BBC announced on Friday that Lineker would not be involved in this week's edition of the hugely popular British football show after the former striker criticised the UK government's new asylum policy on Twitter.
Lineker compared the language being used by current politicians to that expressed in Germany in the 1930s.
In the aftermath of the BBC's announcement, several big-name pundits including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer said they would not appear on the show out of solidarity with Lineker, forcing the BBC to air Saturday's episode without a studio team.
Asked about the row after Liverpool's 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday, Klopp outlined his view that Lineker's message was an acceptable one.
"How I understand it, I am not a native... but I cannot see any reason why you would ask someone to step back for saying that. I can't," Klopp said.
"I'm not sure if it's a language issue or not, but I can't find it. But that's the world we are living in. Everybody is so concerned about doing things in the right manner, saying the right stuff to everybody.
"If you don't do that, you create a s***storm, which we didn't have when we were young. It's a really difficult world to live in.
"If I understand it right, then this is a message or opinion about human rights, and that should be possible to say.
"I don't understand the social media part of it, but I'm probably too old for that. But apart from that, no. If I got it right, there's no reason, for me."
In response to the government's asylum policy, Lineker had posted: "There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I'm out of order?"
Juventus midfielder Kostic out of Serbia squad with Achilles injury
Juventus midfielder Filip Kostic has been ruled out of Serbia's Euro 2024 qualifier against Montenegro with an Achilles injury.
The 30-year-old played a full part in Friday's 2-0 win over Lithuania and set up Dusan Tadic's early opener.
But Kostic will not be available against Montenegro at Podgorica City Stadium on Monday, having returned to his club side for treatment.
"It's bad news for us," Serbia head coach Dragan Stojkovic said at Sunday's pre-match press conference. "He left the team because he has Achilles tendinitis.
"There is no need to take any risks with him. The decision was to return to the club. I'm always sorry when a player gets injured – there's nothing worse for a coach."
Juventus will hope to have Kostic available for a busy run of fixtures when they return to action later this week.
Massimiliano Allegri's side have nine games in April across three competitions, starting with Saturday's Serie A meeting with Hellas Verona at the Allianz Stadium.
Kostic has played in 38 of Juve's 39 matches this season – only Danilo has featured as regularly – and has a team-high 11 assists to go with his three goals.
England 2-0 Ukraine: Saka stars as Three Lions stroll
Bukayo Saka was instrumental and Harry Kane was again on target as England strolled to a 2-0 win over Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Having become England's all-time leading scorer in the 2-1 win over Italy in Naples, Kane broke the deadlock in the 37th minute at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
England's captain converted a superb cross from Saka, who then put the hosts in complete command three minutes later.
A comeback was never on the cards after the Arsenal star's long-range effort, with England firmly in control of Group C with six points from two games.
England had struggled to break down Ukraine before Saka produced a whipped delivery to the far post, where Kane was waiting to fire into the bottom-left corner with aplomb.
After teeing up the first, Saka then produced a second out of nothing, bending magnificently into the top-right corner.
Ukraine were improved in the second half, but did not even manage a corner until the 73rd minute, illustrating England's comfort in seeing out the victory.
England withdrew Kane late on to hand Ivan Toney his England debut, and Gareth Southgate will surely have several opportunities to introduce new faces if his side's qualifying campaign continues in this serene fashion.
Toney's fellow substitute Conor Gallagher forced a smart stop out of Anatolii Trubin before Harry Maguire headed over and Jack Grealish went close, with the only frustration for England being a failure to add further gloss with a third.
Havertz and Schlotterbeck withdraw from Germany squad
Kai Havertz and Nico Schlotterbeck have withdrawn from Germany's squad for Tuesday's friendly with Belgium.
Both players started Saturday's 2-0 win over Peru, but the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed on Sunday they have now returned to their clubs.
Chelsea attacker Havertz is ruled out of the Belgium match through illness, while Borussia Dortmund defender Schlotterbeck has a thigh injury.
Germany head coach Hansi Flick has decided against calling up any replacements for the friendly at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne.
Belgium, who beat Sweden 3-0 in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday, will be without Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois due to a minor strain injury.
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