KOP CAN’T LET MO GO
JURGEN KLOPP is on the brink of ending Liverpool’s 28-year Premier League title drought – despite losing out on the Champions League to Real Madrid.
That’s the view of Patrik Berger, the Czech striker who played almost 200 matches for the Anfield giants.
Klopp is the ninth manager since Kenny Dalglish piloted Liverpool to the old First Division title in 1989-90.
Tough
Most managers since then 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 could soon 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,” he said.
“It’s great to watch them. Generally, football is all about scoring goals and that’s something they do so well.
“Obviously, winning the Champions League is the biggest trophy you can LIVERPOOL need to repel any approaches for their top marksman Mo Salah this summer, says Patrik Berger.
The Egypt star (above) has endured a nightmare World Cup, following his injury in the Champions League final.
But a fit and firing Salah has proven himself to be one of the world’s top strikers.
And Berger believes that keeping Salah is essential for Klopp.
“When you’re at Liverpool, there are only a couple of teams you can go to – and they’re probably Madrid and Barcelona,” said Berger.
“You wouldn’t go elsewhere. Mo has said that he wants to stay at Liverpool and he wants to win trophies and I hope he will stay.
“He’s a top player, but it’s not just his goals, it’s his overall game that has brought so much to Liverpool.”
Salah’s performances in front of goal went a long way to making up for the departure of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January.
“People will say Liverpool won’t be the same team if he leaves, but Coutinho left and Liverpool still reached the Champions League final,” added Berger.
“One player doesn’t make a team, but it would be very difficult to replace Salah.”