Yes, Klopp’s brought no trophies to Anfield. But who’d bet against that changing very soon?
THERE will be some who point out Jurgen Klopp may have taken Liverpool to the Champions League semi-finals but he’s still won nothing.
And if it stays that way come May, he’ll have gone three seasons without winning a trophy at Anfield, when that was what he was brought in to do.
Because there are still those who see the German as a Keeganesque showboater who is big on smiles and hugs but no more up to the job of restoring Liverpool’s past glories than Brendan Rodgers was.
People like Alan Shearer, who, a few months ago, said: “Liverpool have not improved since the day he took over.”
They drag out statistics about percentage win-rates which do not paint the whole picture. Stats don’t tell you Rodgers inherited a peak-reaching Luis Suarez, a maturing Raheem Sterling, and Steven Gerrard.
Or that Klopp inherited none of them, just a side that had been on a downward spiral since the sale of Suarez 15 months earlier. By the time the Americans sent out a distress signal in October 2015 they were 10th in the league, having scored 11 goals in 11 games.
Liverpool are in the best shape they have been since Rafa Benitez came close to winning the Premier League in 2009. Which was the last time they were fighting for a place in the Champions League semis while almost certain of a top-four finish.
The difference being, in 2009, they went out in the quarter-finals, and domestic competition was less stiff as the billions had yet to take effect at Manchester City and Spurs were not a force.
The real progress under Klopp is evident when you look at the players he has brought in compared to some of the dire buys that preceded him.
Of Tuesday’s starting lineup – that finished a 5-1 aggregate demolition of a City side some say is the best Premier League side constructed – only Dejan Lovren, Roberto Firmino and James Milner were there before Klopp.
He signed Andy Robertson, Mo Salah, Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, Virgil van Dijk, Loris Karius, Sadio Mane, and Gini Wijnaldum and blooded Trent Alexander-arnold. He also bagged Joel Matip on a free. All on a net spend of £4million.
Klopp’s real quality is his unshakeable belief in his players and his own vision. He refused to panic and buy a cheaper version of Van Dijk in August when the deal had fallen through and his shaky defence screamed out for a leader.
When he saw Philippe Coutinho no longer wanted to play for him instead of forcing the Brazilian to stay as many fans demanded, he showed him the door and pocketed a phenomenal amount of money he will spend this summer on players who buy into where he wants to take Liverpool.
And such is his aura and passion there are many who do. Players like Van Dijk, who shunned offers from City and Chelsea as he’d set his heart on playing for a man he hailed this week as “the complete manager.”
Klopp has also persuaded Naby Keita to ignore all the overtures from Europe’s top clubs and Oxladechamberlain to leave Arsenal for lower wages.
Pep Guardiola said before Tuesday it didn’t really matter what happened on the night as he was convinced he would be winning the Champions League with City some time soon.
Klopp has said nothing of the sort.
But if he keeps this dramatic progress going, the coach who has eight wins in 14 against Guardiola, may turn out to be the Spaniard’s nemesis at home and abroad.
Who’d bet against Klopp starting to win trophies soon. Maybe even May.