FIRED UP!
Mac got the bullet but he’s still big Klopp fan Dahoud’s on Jurgen wish list
GARY McALLISTER is enjoying life under Jurgen Klopp – even though it cost the Scottish great his Liverpool job.
McAllister, who was part of Gerard Houllier’s 2001 treble cup-winning Anfield side, became Brendan Rodgers’ right-hand man until the pair were axed in October 2015 to make way for former Borussia Dortmund boss Klopp.
Now as a club ambassador, the former midfielder (right) is seeing at close range the Klopp effect on the red half of Merseyside.
But he feels that Rodgers, who is setting records as Celtic manager, hash unfinishedfi ihdb businessi i in theh Premier League. McAllister said: “Yes, I was sad at the way it ended. “But I have plenty of experience and I know the nature of the game. “J urgen Klopp’s appointment wasn’t one that surprised me. A lot of clubs were after him but Liverpool moved quickly. Once a new manager comes in, he brings his own staff. I had no qualms about that. “I think since Jurgen arrived there’s been a buzz. There haveh b been some goodd performances,f especially against the bigger clubs. The bigger the game, the better Liverpool play for Klopp (below).
“There have been problems against teams who come and sit behind the ball. But I think that’s a better problem than not being able to beat your biggest rivals. There is a momentum gathering and everyone knows what that can be like when it happens. It’s unstoppable.”
Yesterday, McAllister experienced that Anfield football fervour playing for Liverpool legends against their Real Madrid counterparts.
Now he hopes that games like this will be replicated under Klopp.
He said: “The challenge is to get the big European nights back. While I was here the best nights were the European nights.
“I would have loved to have played under Klopp. I’ve watched Jurgen in training pushing players, wanting them to do well. Old school, working hard, and running fast down the pitch – it still works.” McAllister insists the business Rodgers did in coming close to winning the club’s first championship since 1990 should not be forgotten.
“Brendan went very close to winning the Premier League and I’m glad now that he’s doing very well at Celtic,” he said.
“Come the moment, I think if top sides south of the border decide it’s time to change managers I’m sure Brendan’s name will come into the frame all the time.” JURGEN KLOPP will not give up on Germany Under-21 target Mahmoud Dahoud – despite massive interest from Borussia Dortmund. The Syrian-born German international is one of the Liverpool chief’s priority summer targets – and he has instructed the club to pull out all the stops to lure the highlyrated central midfielder. The Borussia Monchengladbach star (left) is said to have an £8.5million buy-out clause in his contract that can soon be activated.
Reports in Germany suggest there has only been one serious bid, and that came from Dortmund and not Liverpool.
But Klopp sees Dahoud as vital to his planning for next season.
He is looking to recruit at least three players, with Roma’s tough Greek centre-back Kostas Manolas one of the targets.