BUBBLY KLOPP’S TOP OF THE LOT
GARRY DOYLE PHIL BABB thinks Jurgen Klopp’s bubbly personality and shrewd transfer dealings make him the right man to lead Liverpool back to the top.
The ex-Anfield defender refuses to put a timeframe on when the club will end their 26-year wait for the title – but thinks if anyone can do it, the German can.
Liverpool host Man United tomorrow on the back of four straight Premier League wins.
And Babb, who spent six years at the club from 1994 to 2000, reckons the Klopp-Kop partnership is made in heaven.
He said: “Jurgen has lifted everyone at the club. We have not really achieved anything yet but we are going in the right direction.
“His enthusiasm is infectious. He knows about the history of Liverpool and wants to bring the glory back.
“I’m hopeful. Hopeful because he signed well. He balanced the books during the summer yet shopped smartly, bringing in good players.
“I really like Sadio Mane and when you have Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Mane and Adam Lallana, you have a team who will test anyone.
“And that is why Liverpool can make an impact this year because they have the pace.
“Plus, you have Jordan Henderson proving to be a real leader, James Milner doing a decent job at left-back and Emre Can showing loads of energy.
“All of a sudden we have loads of options. All of a sudden the club has real reason to hope.
“That stems from the manager. I would have loved to have played under him.”
As would his former Ireland and Liverpool team-mate Jason McAteer, who is almost as big a fan of Klopp as Babb.
He said: “I love the rule he has about having to earn the right to touch the This is Anfield sign.
“That is a sign of respect – respect for the past and the club’s traditions.
“We’re definitely seeing progress under Jurgen.
“What I really like is the number of players they get into the box.
“Mane wants to go past players, Lallana is getting better and is staying in the game for 90 minutes now.” few talks before the games, especially when we played Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund.
“It’s always a big challenge and that’s how it is this time. But it is not Mourinho against Klopp.
“This is Liverpool against United. Two good sides. Yeah, we’ll try to get the points.”
The Kop fans have taken Klopp to their hearts during his first 12 months at Anfield.
A TV crew touring the city centre recently was told that he is revered in the same way as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish.
Klopp is touched by their devotion – but jokes he would not wear one of the lookalike masks they love to parade in tribute to their leader.
He added: “If someone wants to wear a mask with my face I can’t believe it. I don’t like my face too much. I wouldn’t wear a mask with it.”
Klopp is humbled by the comparison with Anfield legends but does not feel the fans should dwell on the past and said: “Nobody should compare this team with the good old teams.
“This is a different time in a wonderful club and in a difficult league. The old times will not come back. It’s positive that we had that as a club. We had all these great coaches, managers, players.
“There’s still a positive attitude in and around LFC.
“And that’s good.” STEVE MILLAR