INSPIRATIONAL KLOPP’S LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL WILL MOVE MANY

FOR those fans with a particular aversion to Liverpool Football Club, the next few days are going to be tough.

The farewell to Jurgen Klopp hit a flat spot when Liverpool stumbled out of the title race and out of Europe, but it will be dialled up over the coming week.

There will be no storybook goodbye at a Europa League Final in Dublin nor will Klopp go out with a second Premier League title to his name.

But that will not crush the emotion.

Don’t forget, there’s a flyon-the-wall documentary covering Klopp’s last season that needs good material.

Those sorts of things just don’t make themselves.

On Monday night, he will take charge of his last away game as a Premier League manager when he takes his side to Villa Park. After the Villa match, it will be a countdown to his last game at Anfield, when Liverpool face Wolves in their final Premier League game of the season.

Outside interest in that match has waned and local interest has taken a bit of a hit.

A few days ago, organisers of an open-air function at Aintree racecourse – where fans would watch the Wolves game on a big screen and have a farewell party in honour of Klopp – cancelled the event.

Klopp (below) is popular, but that one was always going to be a big ask

They should sell out “An Evening with Jurgen Klopp & special guests” at the city’s M&S Bank Arena on May 28, not least because it includes the Lightning Seeds and The Zutons and it will be hosted by comedian John Bishop.

Tier One tickets come in at £57, though, so not too cheap.

“This is going to be a very special night, with lots of fantastic memories shared and plenty of great music, too,” said Klopp.

“I’m really looking forward to spending it with our fans, the heartbeat of this wonderful and unique club.”

One thing is for sure, Klopp will not be going quietly, no sliding away via the side door, embarrassed at all the fuss.

And why should he? Overall, the deification – or, on the flip side, the vilification – of managers is one of the more unfortunate staples of football fandom and commentary.

There have always been big managerial personalities who like the limelight, but there just seem to be more than there has ever been.

Once upon a time, at the conclusion of a match, the majority of managers would shake the opposite number’s hand and walk to the tunnel.

Now, you cannot keep them off the pitch.

It is harmless, to be fair, and, in Klopp’s case, an integral part of the way he has managed Liverpool

He, personally, has established an emotional connection with supporters, not least because he knows they can be a valuable tool.

But it is not a ploy, it is not contrived. Throughout his nine years at Anfield, Klopp has taken time to show interest and develop relationships with supporters – often when they are in a time that might be not so great – in compassionate ways that he would never want publicised.

And that is what Liverpool will miss most when Klopp goes.

Even non-Liverpool fans can see that he is a manager who inspires people.

Even those of us who have railed against his treatment of officials, which has too often verged on the disgraceful, can marvel at the way he motivates players and fans.

His success – and in an era of a magnificent Manchester City, it has been success – has had a variety of ingredients, but the most vital has been a simple one.