Klopp would be the greatest if he leaves with another title... his ability to squeeze every last drop out of his squad is another level
IF Liverpool win the Premier League title this season, it should come with an asterisk.
Why? Because if Jurgen Klopp’s final act at Anfield is to lift the trophy, it will eclipse anything any other Reds manager has ever achieved.
Apologies to those Liverpool fans of a certain vintage who cherish the memories left by legends like Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish.
But Klopp has been working miracles this season with a team that required a significant rebuild after finishing fifth last year.
His game plans have regularly been crippled by a succession of injuries to star names such as Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-arnold, Alisson, Andy Robertson, Diogo Jota, Thiago, Dominik Szoboszlai – and many, many others.
But he has managed to dredge heroic performances from those who have remained fit as well as academy graduates such as Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah and No.2 goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
For Liverpool to emerge once again as challengers to a Manchester City team that have already guaranteed their place in history by winning three successive titles and the Treble is an accomplishment in itself.
But if Klopp can now drag Liverpool 2.0 over the finishing line ahead of City and an Arsenal side that is once again in the mix, it would be an astonishing achievement.
It would certainly deserve its own place in the annals of Anfield history.
Liverpool can take a huge step towards the title by beating City.
But whatever happens when Klopp takes on Pep Guardiola for the final time in the Premier League, there will be too much football still to be played for it to be decisive.
City have lost at Anfield many times before – and still prevailed in the race for the big prize.
In fact, the stadium has been a graveyard for the Blues over many years.
Guardiola’s only win there was in 2021, when City won 4-1 in a game that had to be played in an empty ground due to Covid restrictions.
I was in the City team that last won at Anfield in front of fans, our 2-1 victory in May 2003 delivering what proved to be a fatal blow to Kop boss Gerard Houllier’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
It’s a cliche, but the atmosphere generated by Liverpool’s fans has played a huge part in Pep’s misery. closest of friends, but I do believe There is something unique about the they are the best of enemies. There is place for the biggest games – and a huge mutual respect. When the City haven’t been able to Klopp has been Liverpool boss departs, handle the pressure, working miracles I am sure Pep will miss even when they have with a team that their jousts. performed well. required a rebuild Both men have driven
Klopp’s rivalry with each other to become Guardiola is up there with Ferguson better – and that has raised the bar v Dalglish, Wenger v Ferguson and in the Premier League to heights that Mourinho v everyone. we’ve never seen before.
I’m not sure the two men are the Of course, the narrative over the
coming months will be whether Liverpool’s players can deliver the title for their departing boss.
But professional footballers want to win trophies for themselves. It’s what they are programmed to do.
That’s why Klopp was so adamant that, once his decision to leave was made public, he would not be cornered into talking about it in every press conference.
He didn’t want his long goodbye to become a distraction – and his players deserve credit for the focus they have shown as they attempt to add the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League to the Carabao Cup they have already lifted.
This is turning into a title race for the ages. Remember the suggestion in 2020, when Klopp ended the club’s 30-year quest to be champions, the triumph should be marked by an asterisk because the season had been interrupted by the pandemic? A second title, in his final season as Liverpool boss, would deserve to carry a mark that establishes it as something
extra special.
Our Anfield legend says what we’re all thinking