LIFELONG FAN AWAITS KLOPP’S PARTY
AS A Liverpool fan for 70 years and an Anfield season ticket-holder for more than 60, Merseyside communal leader Johnny Cohen was understandably jubilant this week.
Although “very much regretting the reckless supporters who gathered to celebrate, flouting socialdistancing rules”, he could understand why they had done so. “It just hasn’t been the same limiting my revelry to Zoom and WhatsApp at home. I will have to wait until Jurgen Klopp’s promised celebrations can safely be held. Then I can party with my daughter Victoria.”
He praised the “unmatchable” Klopp for building and significantly improving a youthful squad to be “top dog in England and a powerhouse in Europe. Their transfer policy and playermanagement have been superb.
“Nothing could be more satisfying than Liverpool’s huge points hauls over the past two seasons while playing wonderful, entertaining football. It is so rewarding to hear and read plaudits from every quarter — though still not yet from my misguided Manchester Unitedsupporting grandsons!”
Reflecting on the 30-year wait for another league title, Mr Cohen said the philosophy of the Liverpool “boot room” established by legendary boss Bill Shankly and continued by Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan was lost when Graeme Souness became manager.
And the club hierarchy “failed to appreciate the changes heralded by the Premier League, so didn’t invest in the way Manchester United and Arsenal in particular did. It did hurt when Liverpool so often came second, so close but yet so far.”
He looks forward to seeing his beloved team in the flesh before too long. And because of TV scheduling “there’s every prospect of being able to attend most home matches, with less on Shabbos”.