CARRA: KLOPP LIKE SHANKLY
JAMIE CARRAGHER has paid Jurgen Klopp the ultimate compliment – by comparing the Liverpool manager to Kop legend Bill Shankly.
Klopp stands on the threshold of becoming the first manager to bring the title back to Anfield since Kenny Dalglish 30 years ago after the club’s wait for glory was prolonged by the pandemic.
The Reds go into today’s Mersey derby needing just six points to be crowned champions.
Carragher (above) said: “As with Shankly, the supporters look to what Klopp says about every situation – and he always finds the right words.
“Jurgen claims he doesn’t prepare what he’s going to say, but I don’t know if I believe him. He has a great ability to communicate, he has this special quality to say the right thing.
“He brings people with him – and makes them believe in him. Throughout the pandemic, he didn’t ever say anything that crossed the line.
“It wasn’t ever about wanting Liverpool to win the league and not being worried about what the world was going through, although he was so close.
“He always said the right words – not only for Liverpool fans, but for football. Klopp can be very funny, but, on the flipside, when something serious happens, it feels like he is the go-to manager for the league.
“He always nails what needs to be said and how people are feeling.”
Goodison’s doors will be closed to the fans today – and Carragher believes that will be a huge advantage to Liverpool.
He said: “It will be a strange experience because normally the Goodison crowd is a massive advantage for Everton in a derby.
“Liverpool’s record at Goodison is not great – they haven’t lost many, but there aren’t that many wins either.
“Everton’s crowd play a huge part in getting them across the line and that’s not there this time.”
And Carragher has warned Liverpool to beware a Manchester City backlash next season.
He said: “If City go back to how they were in the previous two years, they could easily win the next two or three titles.
“It will be a fight between City and Liverpool for the title for the next couple of years.”
The 58-year-old has been tasked with building a team to grace the Merseyside club’s new £500million stadium at Bramley-moore Dock in the coming years – and he believes the transformation of rivals Liverpool is a lesson the Blues must follow. When Moshri took over the club four years ago, it was towards Manchester City that many Evertonians cast their eyes. Brands feels that UEFA’S efforts to impose Financial Fair Play on clubs like City, who have broken into the big time on the back of huge owner investment, is hugely flawed. But he still feels it is Liverpool’s model of success that offers the