Jurgen Klopp rubbishes proposal for Premier League games to be played in the USA as Liverpool boss mocks 'really good ideas'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hit out at the idea of Premier League games being played in the USA amid calls for the English top flight to go Stateside.

The Premier League is facing new demands for matches to be staged across the pond, with American TV giants NBC determined to stage two from the season's opening weekend on US soil.

TV executives and big-name agents in America are publicly lobbying for 'Manchester United vs Chelsea in New York', while the Premier League's chief executive Richard Masters recently admitted the 'door looks ajar' for games in European leagues to be played abroad.

The concept has been met with firm opposition from fans - who played a key role in defeating an idea for a '39th game' in the US 17 years ago - with many American supporters also against the suggestion.

Now Klopp has poured scorn on talk of the Premier League heading to the States, mocking soccer chiefs for coming up with 'really good ideas'. 

The Reds boss, who is leaving Anfield at the end of the season, said when asked if he could see himself moving into an administrative role after management: ‘No, I never thought about it, but they will need people in a normal age knowing the business. But imagine me becoming FIFA president?

‘It is obviously a well-paid job, that is why they all want to do it - not the official part obviously. I don’t think I will spend my lifetime on these kinds of things.

'In the end one person cannot put it right as long as all the rest think, “Ah, it will be all right, they earn millions, let them play there. Let's do the first three match days in America - all really good ideas."

'Alone you can't change anything. I probably wouldn't survive in that sea of sharks. That is not the plan. I don’t think I will do that.’

NBC Sports is currently locked in a six-year contract with the Premier League for continued exclusive coverage of games in the US since 2022. The deal was reported to be worth $450million-per-season.

At the moment, NBC ranks among the Premier League's most significant partners as the network contributes hugely to the spending power and earning potential of top-flight clubs. 

What's more is that English top-flight games have reached new heights in the US over the last 16 months, with the March fixture between Manchester City and Arsenal drawing a record 2.6 million viewers across English and Spanish-speaking channels. 

Former Premier League goalkeeper and Dailymail.com columnist Tim Howard believes English fans are only critical of plans to move Stateside because of the tradition of their clubs and sport, while insisting it is 'inevitable' for it to happen in the next five years.

'I have always felt that. It could happen in the next five years,' Howard said in his latest column. 'And my message to English fans? It’s a good thing. It will only help the Premier League grow. It will help ensure the Premier League remains the best league in the world.

'What makes it No 1? Teams can attract and pay the best players. In order to do that, you have to have higher revenue streams. In order for that to happen, TV deals have to keep going up. And for that to happen, you have to service those consumers - US fans, Asian fans, South American fans. 

'They are all paying exorbitant fees to watch the Premier League. Now they want a piece of it. 

'That's part of the growth of any league. It’s unfortunate for those English fans who don’t want that. But you can't have it both ways.'