The date is October 17th 2015. Jurgen Klopp is taking charge of his first match as the Liverpool manager against Tottenham. After the continuation of another boring season, in 2014/15, Liverpool finished 6th, we lost 12 times.
Transform into the present and Liverpool currently sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League, having only lost one match and conceded 13 goals.
The journey Jurgen Klopp has took Liverpool on has been remarkable, it was one mans quest to turn doubters into believers and he has certainly achieved it.
With Klopp taking over in October, he wasn’t given a chance to get any of his style of footballers into his team, the team still very much had the making of a Brendan Rodgers side, with a Jurgen Klopp twist.
He made Adam Lallana a pivotal player in midfield, and told him to start the gegenpress from deep. He looked at Roberto Firmino and seen something in him that others hadn’t. The best false nine in the world. He transformed the Brazilian into one of the most complete strikers in world football today.
Liverpool went to big grounds and performed excellently. Beating Chelsea 1-3 and Manchester City 1-4. In these games Liverpool fans caught a glimpse of what Jurgen Klopp was going to do, how he approached games, and how he executed his ideas perfectly.
During this season the defence was constantly the Achilles heel of Liverpool, none more so than in the Europa League final in Basel. However, yet again Klopp seen another plan. In the summer of 2016, Liverpool bought Sadio Mane, who was the clubs best player in the season 2016/17.
The main aim for Liverpool in the season was to get back into the champions league, where they belong. It had been far too long since Liverpool where dining at the top table for a club of its stature.
Liverpool got the job done and finished fourth in 2017. In the summer fans where adamant that the club would buy defenders. However, again Klopp had different plans, the right plans, that he executed perfectly.
When Jurgen Klopp wants a player, he gets them. He is the reason why so many players have turned down moves to Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Barcelona to come and play for Liverpool.
In the summer of 2017, Liverpool signed Mo Salah for £36 million, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for £35 million and Andrew Robertson for £8 million. The latter two signings where mocked and seen as a waste of money. A relegated left back from Hull? Is what they said. Meanwhile, huge doubts still remained over Mo Salah, despite him flourishing in Rome, people in England only seemed to remember his Chelsea days. Even Liverpool fans favoured Thomas Lemar over him, this is why Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers in football.
Klopp seen the patter that was about to emerge. He embedded all his players into the system he wanted to play. It took time and patience but it proved vital. After a difficult beginning to life in Liverpool both Chamberlain and Robertson found themselves integral parts of Klopp’s team. Klopp seen the Chamberlain that breaks the lines and adds to the attack with goals and assists, whilst neutrals seen the Chamberlain that was benched at Arsenal.
Liverpool had one of the best attacks in the world, but that gets you nowhere when you are leaking goals at the back. Klopp knew who his man was to put an end to that. In January 2018, Virgil Van Dijk signed for £75 million. Arguably the signing of the year. However, yet again rival fans laughed and saw it as a disgrace, that Liverpool where paying that sum of money for a Southampton player. Yet again, some Liverpool fans where left in disbelief.
This is why Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers in the World.
Liverpool reached the Champions League final and with a top quality goalkeeper would have been the Kings of Europe. They finished fourth in the league once again but huge progression was undoubtedly being made.
In the summer of 2018, Jurgen Klopp started putting the finishing touches to this jigsaw he envisaged when arriving in 2015. Fabinho was signed from Monaco for £44 million, while play makers Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri where also added to the squad.
Liverpool still needed a goalkeeper. Names such as Joe Hart, Jack Butland and Jasper Cillessen were rumoured and yet again some Liverpool fans approved.
This is why Jurgen Klopp is one of the best managers in the World.
Alisson Becker was bought from Roma for £67 million and has so far been part of a defence that has conceded 13 goals. No other Liverpool goalkeeper has kept as many clean sheets as he has in their first season at the club. Jurgen Klopp was the reason why the Brazilian turned down Chelsea.
Liverpool have progressed well beyond my imagination since 2015, we have been unlucky with trophies throughout the process and maybe one of them would have helped the process go a lot smoother. However, Jurgen Klopp has took us on a ride that we never want to get off from. Hes took us on a ride that has left us with some of the best memories. Hopefully Liverpool can go on and fulfil these dreams of ours and bring some silverware back to Anfield.
