JUR PERFECT FOR ANFIELD
SIR KENNY DALGLISH knew from the moment Jurgen Klopp walked into Anfield that the German was made for Merseyside.
Former striker Dalglish was the last manager to deliver the title before Klopp ended the 30-year wait to make Liverpool champions of England.
And he recognised a kindred spirit when Klopp (above) delivered his very first press conference after being appointed boss in October 2015.
It was when the ex-Borussia Dortmund boss proclaimed himself ‘the normal one’ that Sir Kenny knew the Kop had landed someone special.
Dalglish said: “When he was appointed everyone was really excited and he nailed himself to the people when he said, ‘I’m the normal one’.
“Because that’s what the Liverpool people are. They just want people to be normal, very good at their job – but they don’t need it slammed in their face every two minutes.
“It’s important that the club has a feelgood factor. Jurgen certainly brought that in and that’s the way it used to be at Liverpool.
“It is not about me, me, me. It is about us, it is about Liverpool, it is about the supporters. Liverpool has always been close to the community – and he has epitomized that and bought into that and agreed with it.”
Dalglish pays tribute to Klopp in a Channel 4 documentary that will be aired tomorrow night.
Produced in conjunction with Erdinger Weissbrau, the hour-long feature also includes interviews with Steven Gerrard, John Barnes, Steve McManaman and Jurgen Klinsmann.
It takes up Klopp’s story in 1990 and charts his rise from lower-league footballer to Liverpool saviour.
Former Kop skipper Gerrard said: “A couple of years before Liverpool came he is knocking the likes of Real Madrid out of tournaments.
“He took a team, without spending huge amounts of money, and he’s putting them alongside the Barcelonas, the Real Madrids, the AC Milans, all the teams that had been doing well in Europe.
“Jurgen Klopp took Borussia Dortmund there. He’d even knocked Bayern Munich off their perch.”
LIVERPOOL have been told to add another £1.8million to their £9m offer if they want to sign defender Aissa Mandi from Real Betis. Mandi, 28, has a £25m buy-out clause – but with his contract ending in June next year, Betis know they will have to take less.
Liverpool want another centre-half after selling Dejan Lovren to Zenit St Petersburg.