RUSH: SPECIAL K UP WITH GREATS

LIVERPOOL legend Ian Rush believes Jurgen Klopp has made himself one of the club’s all-time great managers.

Klopp ended a 30-year wait for the title and lifted the Champions League - and did it his own way with a grin on his face.

That is why Rush believes Klopp deserves his place alongside the likes of Kenny Dalglish (right) and Bob Paisley.

Rush (above, left), the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, also believes Klopp’s respect for Liverpool’s history and traditions is a further reason why he is special.

Rush said: “He’s been absolutely fantastic. What he’s doing again. When you used to see him, he’d give you a big hug. He’s always got a smile on his face, you go away smiling and want to give everyone else a hug.

“He’s always laughing and joking and makes everyone feel happy. When you look at Kenny Dalglish and Bob Paisley, they would do it in a different way but everyone would come away laughing and joking.

“They are all one big family but you need a leader and Jurgen is that leader. He’s doing that. He keeps everyone’s spirits up. Not just the players but the supporters as well because he knows how important the supporters are to the team too.

“He knows the history of the club and he’s absolutely fantastic.

“Even with Hillsborough, he knows everything about it and he knows what it means to the supporters to be successful.

“That’s something that special managers have in them and Jurgen Klopp has it in him.”

Rush says Klopp’s connection with the fans and buying into the unique nature of Anfield has also been key.

He added: “The atmosphere is superb at Anfield. One of the best things they’ve done is to build this stand which is incredible. It’s an all-new stand. “Before that, the atmosphere would just come from the Kop, now it comes from the main stand as well.

“There’s been so many special occasions over the past couple of years and it’s something money just can’t buy.”