The Way Klopp Has Changed The Way Liverpoolians Think About Liverpool

Published 2024-05-22 10:45

Klopp is to be facing his last game for Liverpool against Wolves on the 19th of May. Klopp's nine years at Liverpool have gone by quick and in this article we will be going through how Klopp has brought Liverpool from competing against middle-tabled teams to winning a Champions League in a matter of a couple of years. 

 

It all started in October 2015 when The German arrived at Anfield after taking a short break from football following an impressive seven-year stay with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Klopp was Brendan Rodgers replacement following a 6th place finish in the Premier League and failing to advance far in Europe.

 

Jordan Henderson was named captain following the departure of ex-captain and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. Klopp was facing a Spurs side who finished in 5th just 2 points ahead of Liverpool the season before. Although Klopp´s first game ended in a 0-0 draw which was not the dream start to the new ´Era´, the scousers from Liverpool were reasonably happy. Following the game in Klopp´s first interview he states ´ Liverpool must play at full throttle and take it to the limit every single game´.On 28 October, Klopp secured his first win as Liverpool manager against AFC Bournemouth in the League Cup to proceed to the quarter-finals. 

 

His first Premier League win came three days later, a 3–1 away victory against Chelsea. After three 1–1 draws in the opening matches of the UEFA Europa League, Liverpool defeated Rubin Kazan 1–0 in Klopp's first win in Europe as Liverpool manager. On 6 February 2016, he missed a league match to have an appendectomy after suffering suspected appendicitis. On 28 February, Liverpool lost the 2016 League Cup Final at Wembley to Manchester City on penalties. On 17 March, Liverpool progressed to the quarter-final of the Europa League by defeating Manchester United 3–1 on aggregate. On 14 April, Liverpool fought back from a 3–1 second half deficit in the second leg of their quarter-final match against his former club Dortmund to win 4–3, advancing to the semi-finals 5–4 on aggregate. On 5 May, Klopp guided Liverpool to their first European final since 2007 by beating Villareal 3–1 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the Europa League. In the final, Liverpool faced Sevilla, losing 3–1 with Daniel Sturridge scoring the opening goal for Liverpool in the first half. Liverpool finished the 2015-2016 season in eighth place. On 8 July 2016, Klopp and his coaching staff signed six-year extensions to their deals keeping them at Liverpool until 2022. 

 

Liverpool qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2014-15 on 21 May 2017, after winning 3–0 at home against Middlesbrough and finishing fourth in the 2016-17 season.Klopp's side finished fourth in the 2017-18 Premier League, securing qualification for the Champions League for a second consecutive season. Along with the emergence of Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold as regular starters at fullback, Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren built a strong partnership at the heart of Liverpool's defence, with the Dutchman being credited for improving Liverpool's previous defensive issues. Klopp guided Liverpool to their first Champions League final since 2007 in 2018 after a 5–1 aggregate quarter-final win against eventual Premier League champions, Manchester City and a 7–6 aggregate win over Roma in the semi-final. However, Liverpool went on to lose in the final 3–1 to Real Madrid. 

This was Klopp's sixth defeat in seven major finals. Despite their attacking prowess, Klopp's side had been criticised for their relatively high number of goals conceded, something which Klopp sought to improve by signing defender Virgil van Dijk in the January transfer window, for a reported fee of £75 million, a world record transfer fee for a defender. In the summer transfer window, Klopp made a number of high-profile signings including midfielders Naby Keita and Fabinho,forward Xherdan Shaqiri and goalkeeper Alisson.Success eluded Klopp's Liverpool side in domestic cup competitions in 2018–19. On 26 September 2018, Klopp's side were knocked out in the third round of the League Cup after losing 2–1 to Chelsea, their first defeat of the season in all competitions, and were knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 2–1 to Wolves in the third round. Despite a lack of success in domestic cup competitions, 

Liverpool enjoyed a vintage run in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League. Klopp's side finished second in their group by virtue of goals scored to qualify for the knockout phase,before drawing German champions Bayern Munich in the round of 16. A scoreless draw in the first leg, followed by 3–1 victory in the second leg at the Allianz Arena saw Liverpool qualify for the quarter-finals. Liverpool won their quarter-final tie against Porto with an aggregate score of 6–1 to advance to the semi-finals, where Klopp's Liverpool faced tournament favourites Barcelona. After suffering a 3–0 defeat at the Nou Camp, Klopp reportedly asked his players to "just try" or "fail in the most beautiful way" in the second leg of the tie at Anfield. In the second leg, Klopp's side overturned the deficit with a 4–0 win, advancing to the final 4–3 on aggregate, despite Mo Salah and Bobby Firmino being absent with injuries, in what was described as one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history. In the final at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool won 2–0 with goals from Salah and Divock Origi, despite only having 39% possession over the course of the game, giving Klopp his first trophy with Liverpool, his first Champions League title, and the club's sixth European Cup/Champions League title overall.

 

References: (1) Liverpool fc
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