Kroos control
UNLUCKY IN KIEV, BUT JURGEN’S SHOWN REDS HAVE THE GAME TO WIN THE PREM
With a couple of new signings, Liverpool can challenge for title
That’s the view of Patrik Berger, the Czech striker who played almost 200 matches for the Anfield giants.
The German is the ninth Kop boss since Kenny Dalglish piloted Liverpool to the old First Division title in 1989-90.
Most managers since have crashed, burned and flopped under the weight of expectation at a club that won the league 18 times before the inception of the Premier League in 1992.
They came within a Steven Gerrard slip of aceing it in 2014.
But now Berger believes that Klopp is Liverpool’s trump card – and a manager who deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Dalglish.
“Under Klopp, they’re scoring goals – Liverpool are playing the Liverpool way, the way the fans demand.
“It’s great to watch them. Generally football is all about scoring goals and that’s something they do so well.
“Winning the Champions League is the biggest trophy you can win in European football.
“But I know the Liverpool fans and the supporters feel that under Klopp this is a team that’s good enough to win the league if everyone is fit and if everyone stays at Liverpool for the next season.
“With another couple of signings, Liverpool can definitely be challenging for the title.
“Over the years, Liverpool have been close to winning it but it didn’t happen for whatever reason. But it’s tough. The Premier League is a very, very tough competition. Anyone can finish in the top four and anyone can win the league. “Obviously, Manchester City were exceptional last season but Liverpool are very, very close.”
Under Klopp, Liverpool scored 84 goals, a tally bettered only by Pep Guardiola’s City.
Perhaps the biggest plus point in a season that saw Liverpool once again qualify for the Champions League was the defensive security shown in the second half of the campaign.
Much of that was down to the arrival of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. The Dutchman was immense and gave Liverpool the kind of stability that had been sadly lacking at times in the past two seasons.
They conceded 38 goals last season – four less than in 2016-17 and 12 fewer than the 50 they shipped in the previous campaign.
“They’re great to watch going forward but defensively they have improved too,” says Berger. “They bought Virgil van Dijk for an awful lot of money but he has been superb since he arrived.
“Bringing through young talent has always been really important to Liverpool too.
“Look at Michael Owen, Stevie G, Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler.
“Now there are players like Trent Alexander-arnold coming through. I had never heard of the boy before but every since he started to play I’ve been very impressed.
“He has become one of the most important players.”
JURGEN KLOPP stands on the brink of ending Liverpool’s 28-year Premier League title drought – despite missing out on lifting the Champions League against Real Madrid.