Jurgen Klopp has revealed ’99 per cent’ of Liverpool’s squad have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
A report last week suggested only seven of the current 20 Premier League clubs have half of their first-team representatives choosing to be inoculated.
However Klopp confirmed ahead of Sunday’s visit of Manchester City that virtually all of the Reds’ playing side took up the option of the vaccine.
No fewer than six of the German’s first-team squad last season tested positive for Covid, including Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane.
And the Liverpool manager admitted he did not need to persuade his players to have the vaccine, which is clinically proven to limit the impact of the virus.
“I can say we have 99% vaccinated,” said Klopp.
“I didn’t have to convince the players. It was more a natural decision from the team.
“I cannot remember really talking to a player in a one-on-one situation and explaining to him.”
Klopp also issued a withering attack on the anti-vaxxer movement, claiming their refusal to be immunised is as dangerous to society as drink driving.
He added: “If I say I am vaccinated, other people say: ‘How can you tell me I should be vaccinated?’ It is a little bit like drink-driving.
“We all probably were in a situation where we had a beer or two and thought we still could drive, but the law [dictates] we are not allowed to drive so we don’t drive.
“But this law is not there for protecting me when I drink two beers and want to drive, it’s for protecting all the other people because I’m drunk and we accept that as a law.
“I don’t take the vaccination only to protect me, I take the vaccination to protect all the people around me.
“I don’t understand why that is a limitation of freedom because, if it is, then not being allowed to drink and drive is a limitation of freedom as well.
“I got the vaccination because I was concerned about myself but even more so about everybody around me.
“If I get [Covid] and I suffer from it: my fault. If I get it and spread it to someone else: my fault and not their fault.”