Jurgen Klopp was angry at the poor atmosphere at Anfield on Wednesday (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has appeared to backtrack after slamming his own fans ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal.

The Reds, who currently sit second, host the league leaders at Anfield with victory enough for them to go top of the table if they can defeat the Gunners.

Speaking ahead of that match, Klopp aimed a dig at his own supporters for the lack of atmosphere following their 5-1 Carabao Cup win over West Ham.

‘I was not overly happy with the atmosphere behind me,’ Klopp said on Wednesday. ‘I wondered what they wanted.

‘We need Anfield on their toes without me being in argument with their coach or whatever.

‘If you’re not in the right shape, give your ticket to someone else.’

But Klopp, speaking at a press conference on Friday, has now appeared to soften his stance.

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‘I said give your ticket to someone else but people tell me it’s not that easy!’ Klopp said. ‘I didn’t mean it [literally]. I cannot change that. I said we need Anfield, that is 100 per cent true and I can’t wait for the first whistle.

‘Maybe I have to… I can tell our people, I don’t order atmospheres, we had two home games in a row and 62 [shots].

‘Imagine if we’d have scored [more]. It’s my feeling directly after the game. I turned around and missed a chance and people were flat.’

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‘I didn’t mean it [literally]…’