Luke Littler makes feelings clear on Jurgen Klopp with Liverpool boss regretful over comments on darts star

He said: "I understand it 100 per cent but it is a little bit like the new darts sensation (Littler), it is fine for tonight.

"But from tomorrow, leave the boys in the corner, please. And don't ask: 'Where are they now? Where are they now? Where are they now?'

"They have a lot to improve and a lot to learn.

"And everyone who is with us, we should have our moments, they will have more moments than they ever would have expected, probably, so that is one thing."

Littler has now been asked about the comments from Klopp.

And the darts star showed he's still grounded by making it clear he's unfazed and that it's merely 'another day' in his life.

“I actually watched the final and the young lads are doing well, but if he wants to compares them to me then he can," he said, referring to Liverpool's Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea last week.

“I actually woke up and someone told me that he compared me to his young lads, so I went online and watched the video.

“I gave it a like and went on to the next video. That was literally another day in my life.”

Littler is hoping to win the UK Open and has been boosted by the shock exit of favourite Michael van Gerwen.

And he's backing himself to go all the way and claim a first major PDC title, especially after beating James Wade 10-7 on Friday.

“I have not even thought about it, but I know if my game is there every match then I don’t see why I can’t win it,” he said.

“I don’t mind who I play. It is what I dreamed of, playing in front of thousands every week, I just take it in my stride.”

Klopp, meanwhile, has continued to hail Liverpool's young players for stepping up at a time when so many stars are injured.

But the German has revealed he regrets his comments about Littler.

“I don’t feel [I have to protect them], I know it,” he told reporters.

“You are all not ready to do it, so somebody has to ask for it.

“I would like to eat my words that I mentioned that night [Wednesday], I gave, again, an assist, to some people to understand the wrong way. It’s my fault.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

• Geri Halliwell 'was talked into meeting Christian Horner in Bahrain' as crisis talks held and team 'worried'
• Mason Greenwood 'annoyed' with Man Utd and worried about his parents with return to England possible
• Luke Littler called out for rematch as darts rival embraces chance at redemption - 'Bring it on'

“Of course, nobody is Luke Littler. It’s just in general.

"What could disturb a career for a very young prospect is, one part of, what the public make of it.

“It’s wonderful, they deserve it. You cannot live on the planet if you don’t see how special the story was, but now the next challenge is how to deal with all the things coming up.

“These boys are fantastic in that department, really down to earth, grounded.

"I don’t think it was necessary to mention that night but I did, so my fault.”

Liverpool are next in action against Nottingham Forest today (3pm).

The Reds won 3-0 in the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier in the season after goals from Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.