Some managers have a shelf-life but Klopp has no expiry date. For what he has achieved in England I’d even put him ahead of Pep Guardiola STAN COLLYMORE

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IF Jurgen Klopp carries on like this he will go down as one of the all-time great managers – not just at Liverpool but in English football history. or two, then he will quite rightly be talked about in the same breath as Sir Alex Ferguson, Bill Shankly, Brian Clough, Bob Paisley, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.

In terms of what he has achieved in England, I’d even put Klopp ahead of Guardiola now.

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the £75million-plus Klopp splurged on Virgil van Dijk and £56million on Alisson. But others have spent those sorts of sums several times over without the return Klopp is enjoying.

And while plenty of us believed he would bridge the gap that had opened up between Liverpool and the other top clubs, no one really thought the Reds would compete for the title as quickly as they did last season, never mind be 22 points clear with nine games to go this time around.

In terms of silverware, Jose Mourinho remains ahead of Klopp but Chelsea had already broken the financup cial mould when he arrived for the first time. So that’s why I have no hesitation in putting him on a pedestal.

For Liverpool to win the Premier League – which they will do if they beat Everton tonight and Palace on Wednesday – by such a margin shows what an exceptional manager he is and what an exceptional team they are.

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And I’m so pleased that the season looks like it will be played to a finish.

It would not have felt right if we had been forced to curtail the campaign and they’d won their first title for 30