Jurgen Klopp reportedlydeclined an offer from U.S. Soccer, which is in the process of finding a new head coach for the U.S. men’s national team.
This follows the dismissal of former head coach Gregg Berhalter. U.S. Soccer, which has a connection to Klopp through USWNT coach Emma Hayes, reached out to Klopp to explore his interest in the role.
According to The Athletic, Klopp rejected the approach, emphasizing his desire to take a break from football after leaving Liverpool earlier this year due to burnout and low energy levels.
Despite his refusal, U.S. Soccer remains interested in the possibility of securing the German coach for the position.
After finishing the Premier League season with Liverpool, Klopp has been enjoying a restful summer, taking time off from the sport.
“It is that I am running out of energy,” he said in January. “I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.”
While Klopp is a prominent name on the USMNT’s potential coaching list, he is not the only candidate being considered. The federation’s search for a new head coach is in its early stages. The national team decided to make a change following their poor performance at the Copa America, where they, as the tournament hosts, were eliminated in the group stage.
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker says the federation hopes to have a coach appointed by September when the U.S. will play a pair of friendlies. They’ll face Canada on September 7 in the first of those friendlies before hosting New Zealand three days later.
Arne Slot has provided insight into Liverpool’s transfer strategies and acknowledged the significant challenge of succeedingJurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Formerly with Feyenoord, Slot is Liverpool’s first head coach, a new role stemming from a structural change in the club’s sporting hierarchy.
He will collaborate closely with the new sporting director, Richard Hughes, to build the squad for the upcoming season. Slot emphasized that his experience in European football has equipped him for this role, where he will work alongside Hughes to secure the best transfer deals.
Talking to reporters, Slot said: “For me, it is not a change. In Europe, we work like this, and Iâve worked at Feyenoord and my former clubs in a similar way. There are not many clubs in the world where one person decides everything. It is a collaboration between many people.
I don’t think there are many sporting directors who bring in players the manager or head coach doesnât like, and it is the other way around.”
While Slot avoided specifying the exact areas he intends to strengthen, he expressed confidence in the existing squad’s quality and potential.
“Not in specific numbers. There is already a real good team, there were a few new signings last season,” he said.
“So the longer a team plays together if there is a good head coach normally you will see things will improve. It is fortunate I am going to a club where normally not many transfers go out.At Feyenoord, it was almost normal (that) eight, nine, 10 players left the club after every season so it is more difficult for a manager to get this progress.
But here I am expecting him (Hughes) to keep most of our players and I think he wants that himself and from there we can only build.” Taking over from Klopp, who enjoyed immense success during his nine-year tenure, Slot acknowledged the significant expectations placed on him.
“They are big shoes to fill, but you can look at it as inheriting a squad and a team which has a winning culture,” Slot remarked.
“One of the reasons to come here – and there are always more reasons for this – but I do feel we have a real good squad, and as a manager you want to work at a club with good players with an opportunity to win something. The past has shown there is a possibility to win some trophies.
“I like to work with players and like to develop them but I like to win as well, and at this club there is an opportunity to win. It always helps to get to know the city but I think, as a manager, it helps even more if you win most of your games. If we do that in the best possible way it will probably give me some time as well, and if I have time then I can get to know the city a bit better. But it all starts with improving the team and winning as many games as we can.”
When asked about Klopp’s self-description as “the normal one” Slot reflected on the profound impact the German manager had on the club. “It’s special what Jurgen did to this club,” he said. “When he arrived, he said he was the ‘normal one,’ but what made him special was the impression he left behind, winning trophies and his playing style – the fans loved it.
Maybe he said he was the normal one, but I think the fans saw him differently. What he did for the club was more than normal.”
Slotâs appointment heralds a new chapter for Liverpool, building on the robust foundationestablished by Klopp. The Dutchmanâs focus on teamwork and continuity indicates a balanced approach to sustaining Liverpoolâs competitive edge while promoting long-term success.
As the new head coach takes on his role, fans will be keen to observe how Slotâs strategies develop and how he manages the challenges and opportunities of leading one of the worldâs most renowned football clubs.
EA Sports FC has unveiled an impressive video tribute bidding farewell to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, featuring fans and star player Virgil van Dijk.
Klopp left Anfield on a high note, leading the Reds to a 2-0 victory over Wolves on the final day of the Premier League season. With his departure, Arne Slot will be stepping in as his successor.
The heartfelt video showcases Liverpool supporters expressing their gratitude to the German coach, telling him he “made us dream,” with Virgil van Dijk prominently featured.
The touching narration is provided by rapper Loyle Carner, a devoted Liverpool fan who often performs in the team’s home kit.
The video showcases some of Klopp’s most memorable moments, from lifting the Premier League and Champions League trophies to his signature sprints down the touchline following a Liverpool goal.
The clip concludes with Klopp fist-pumping towards the Kop, seamlessly blending real-life footage with EAFC visuals.
Klopp plans to take a break, likely enjoying a well-deserved holiday, as Arne Slot steps in to fill his role.
The Dutchman faces a significant challenge, especially with the uncertain futures ofMohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez as the summer approaches.
Mohamed Salah unveils a bold new appearance as Liverpool enters the post-Jurgen Klopp era, appearing to have shaved his head.
The 31-year-old forward concludes his seventh season at Anfield with an additional 25 goals, bringing his total tally to 211 for the Premier League giants.
Maintaining his influential role, Salah is anticipated to remain with the Merseyside club for at least another year.
Jurgen Klopp is set to return to Anfield just weeks after stepping down as Liverpool’s manager to attend a Taylor Swift concert.
Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool concluded over the weekend with a 2-0 victory against Wolves at Anfield.
In an emotional farewell on the final day of the Premier League season, the German coach expressed gratitude to the players and fans for their support and urged them to back his successor, Arne Slot.
While many wondered when the former Borussia Dortmund coach would return to Anfield, it has been revealed that he and his wife Ulla will be back in a few weeks to watch Swift’s Eras Tour.
During an hour-long Q&A session with staff in the Carlsberg Dugout executive lounge in Anfield’s Main Stand, Klopp mentioned, via The Athletic, that he and his wife had secured tickets to see Taylor Swift perform at Anfield in mid-June.
He even entertained the staff by singing a few lines from her hit song, ‘Shake it Off.’
Klopp will be remembered as a Liverpool legend and a Premier League icon. His tenure saw the Reds win numerous trophies, including theChampions League and the Premier League making his departure a significant challenge for his successor, Arne Slot. The future of Liverpool’s success without Klopp remains uncertain.
Earlier this week, Liverpool confirmed the appointment of Feyenoord boss Slot, who has signed a three-year contract and will assume his new role next month. As for Klopp, his next career move is still unknown.
In April, Liverpool reached a compensation agreement of ÂŁ9.4 million with Feyenoord after selecting the 45-year-old as Klopp’s successor at Anfield.
Klopp, who had managed Liverpool since October 2015, departed the club following their season-ending victory against Wolves on Sunday.
After the game, the 56-year-old German called on Liverpool fans to get behind their new boss, chanting, âArne Slot, na na na na na.â Slotâs three-year contract at Liverpool will officially start on 1 June, subject to a work permit.
âIt is certainly not an easy decision to close the door behind you at a club where you have experienced so many wonderful moments and worked successfully with so many wonderful people,â Slot told Feyenoordâs club website.
âBut as a sportsman, an opportunity to become a head coach in the Premier League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, is difficult to ignore.â
Following Liverpoolâs announcement on Monday, Mohamed Salah appeared to suggest he would remain at Anfield next season.
âWe know that trophies are what counts and we will do everything possible to make that happen next season. Our fans deserve it, and we will fight like hell,â the 31-year-old posted on X.
Last summer, the Reds turned down a ÂŁ150 million bid from Al-Ittihad for Salah, but Michael Emenalo, the Saudi Pro League’s director of football, indicated that the option to acquire the Egyptian winger remained open.
Jurgen Klopp concluded his time at Liverpool by securing every major trophy available, despite falling short in several key finals. His tenure at the Merseyside club was distinguished by historic accomplishments, including winning the Premier League, the Champions League, and various domestic cups.
As Arne Slot steps in to lead the team,both fans and players are optimistic that this new era will bring ongoing success and more silverware to Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp tookto the dancefloor during a memorable farewell celebration for the Liverpool boss, featuring a special performance by former star John Barnes.
In an emotional Sunday afternoon at Anfield, Klopp bid adieu to the Reds following their 2-0 victory over Wolves, marking the conclusion of the 2023/24 season and his nine-year tenure with the club.
During the post-match festivities, Klopp was in high spirits as he danced alongside his coaching staff and players. He even showcased his moves to a rap performance by former England and Liverpool icon John Barnes.
Just one day after the departure of the former Borussia Dortmund coach, Liverpool has officially introduced Arne Slot as his successor.
Slot, who previously coached Feyenoord, will take over as head coach of the Premier League club on June 1.
At 56 years old,
Slot has been a subject of interest for several clubs since announcing his departure from Feyenoord in January.
However, despite speculation,Klopp has consistentlystated that he will not be joining another club, at least for the upcoming 2024/25 campaign, as he seeks a well-deserved break from football.
Pep Guardiola fought back tears while paying tribute to outgoing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after the German called him the world’s best manager.
On Friday, Klopp said the former Barcelona boss was the “best manager in the world” and added if you put any other manager in the City dugout “they don’t win the league four times in a row”.
After City secured their fourth-straight Premier League crown following a 3-1 win over West Ham, Guardiola heaped praise on the German – who is leaving for pastures new this summer.
After the match, Guardiola said: “I will miss him a lot. Jurgen has been a really important part of my life. He brought me to another level as a manager. We respect each other incredibly. I have the feeling he will be back and thank you so much for his words but he knows that behind me there is a lot that this club provides me with, otherwise alone I can’t do it. I’m humble enough to understand that.
Pep Guardiola was brought to tears when responding to Jurgen Klopp's praise as the @ManCity boss claimed his fourth Premier League title in a row â¤ď¸đ¤
“I wish him all the best and hope his final game was special, he deserved it. He made Liverpool recognised with his stamp, and the incredible pride of being a Liverpool fan.
It’s not just about titles, there are personalities that when they arrive in one place they stay forever andJurgen and Liverpool will be part of the level of [Bill] Shankly and [Bob] Paisley and these incredible legends.”
Klopp won the Premier League, Champions League, and a host of domestic cups during his nine-year spell at Anfield, and Guardiola has won a whopping 17 trophies during his time at City. Both will, arguably, be remembered among the greatest managers of all time.
While it is not yet known what is in store for Klopp after finishing his time at Liverpool, Guardiola will prepare his City side for one last push as they take on bitter rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final next Saturday.
Earlier this year, Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool after nine successful seasons with the club.
Initially, Liverpool had their sights set on Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.
However, Alonso opted to stay with Die Werkself for another season, prompting Liverpool to turn their attention to Slot. The Dutchman has already signed a contract to take over as coach this summer.
Feyenoord marked Slot’s departure with an emotional tribute ahead of their final match of the season.
Speaking with the media, Slot said [via ESPN]: “I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year.
“Until now I was not thinking about this being the build up to my last match, but that starts coming now. At the beginning of the week you are thinking about training and those kind of things.
But the feeling gets stronger now. That is why I’m a little bit late now [for the news conference], because I wanted to say goodbye to some people personally and take time for them, more then just shaking hands.
“So yeah, the feeling grows. I understand that good results help, but it is very nice to feel that people really are thinking it’s a pity that I’m leaving. You can say that with words, but you can feel it if people truly think that way. That does mean a lot to me.”
Slot has been compared to Klopp in terms of his playing style, and bringing the Dutchman to Anfield will cost Liverpool close to ÂŁ13m ($16m) in compensation to Feyenoord, according to reports.
The 45-year-old manager led Feyenoord to an Eredivisie title last season and finished this season in second place behind PSV.
Slot will lead Feyenoord for the final time at De Kuip on May 19 as they face Excelsior, before bidding farewell to the Feyenoord faithful.
Michail Antonio has shed light on the touchline altercation between Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salahduring Liverpool’s draw with West Ham.
The incident, which overshadowed the match, saw Salah and Klopp engaged in a heated exchange. While Klopp downplayed the incident, Salah hinted at underlying tensions.
Various theories have emerged regarding the cause of the row, including speculation about Salah’s frustration at not starting the game and footage suggesting a disagreement over a handshake.
Antonio revealed that the West Ham players have been discussing the incident and forming their own opinions about what transpired.
“As the [Liverpool] players come on, Klopp always gives them a big hug and says ‘good luck’, but when Mo came on he walked in a different direction and was doing his shinpads and stuff like that.
Klopp has put his hand out to him and his hand was there for a bit and as Mo stopped doing what he was doing, he just slapped his [Klopp’s] hand as a high five.
“Obviously Klopp didnât like that and he was like, âdo you want to sit back down?â, basically saying, ‘do you want to go on?’. And nobody has told me what Mo said back.”
Speculation has arisen that Salah might depart Liverpool in the summer following the row. Meanwhile, both Salah and Klopp will resume action on Sunday against Tottenham in the Premier League. Liverpool’s title aspirations took a hitafter recent draws against Everton and West Ham.
Mohamed Salahhas opted to keep mum about the touchline disagreement he had with manager Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday, stating: “There is going to be fire today if I speak.”
During the match, Salah and Klopp appeared to have a disagreement as Salah waited to be brought onto the pitch with 13 minutes remaining.
Fellow substitutes Darwin Núùez and Joe Gomez intervened to calm the situation.
Following the game, Salah chose not to speak to reporters in the mixed zone, reiterating: “There is going to be fire today if I speak.”
The draw dealt a blow to Liverpool’s dwindling hopes of clinching the Premier League title. Klopp’s team is now two points behind Arsenal, who can extend their lead when they face Tottenham on Sunday.
Liverpool is scheduled to play against Spurs next Sunday.
Klopp declined to provide further details on the disagreement.
“We spoke about that in the dressing room and it’s done for me, that’s all,” the Liverpool boss said.
Salah’s contract at Anfieldis due to expire at the end of next season. In February, sources told ESPN’s Rob Dawson that the 31-year-old was one of a number of top Premier League stars who will targeted by Saudi Pro League clubs in the summer transfer window.
Virgil van Dijk is optimistic about the prospect of Feyenoord manager Arne Slot becoming the next coach at Liverpool, as the club seeks a successor for Jurgen Klopp.
Slot has emerged as the leading candidate for the position, with discussions regarding a move to Anfield already in progress.
While former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has expressed skepticism about Slot’s ability to transition from the Eredivisie to the Premier League, team captain Van Dijk seems to support his compatriot.
He told ViaPlay: âI think Slot is one of the better Dutch coaches at the moment. With the way he plays and the philosophy he has, he can be a Liverpool coach.
But I read and hear that it is far from complete. We shall see. We will focus on that next season, but that is still a long way off.â
Liverpool faces a monumental challenge in finding a successor to Jurgen Klopp, who has achieved significant success during his time at Anfield. After failing to secure Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen, the club has now set its sights on Slot.
The Dutch manager, who has won both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Beker with Feyenoord since 2021, emerges as the top candidate following Ruben Amorim’s withdrawal from consideration.
While discussions between Liverpool and Feyenoord continue, the team, led by Van Dijk, aims to recover from their recent defeat toEverton as they face West Hamin Saturday’s early kick-off.
Jurgen Klopp emphasized that Liverpool’s Premier League title aspirations hinge on a “crisis” occurring at Arsenal and Manchester City following a 2-0 loss in the Merseyside derby against Everton.
With four games remaining, Liverpool finds themselves three points adrift of the top spot.
Everton secured their first home derby victory since 2010 with goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, effectively alleviating relegation concerns by establishing an eight-point cushion above the relegation zone.
The Everton supporters taunted their rivals by singing “You lost the league at Goodison Park” and Klopp, who will step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, said his side were now struggling to stay alive in the title race.
“I don’t know why I need to answer the question, but I know how it works,”Klopp said. “You can see the table. We need a crisis at Arsenal and City, so they need to not win games as we haven’t done tonight. Arsenal and City must have a very bad moment.
“I can only apologise for today to the people. We should have done better but we didn’t. Our performance wasn’t good enough and I am very disappointed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ-XK7pKn9M
“We defended the first goal three times and handed it to Everton on a plate and the second goal could probably have been defended better.
“And for us, each miss gave Everton more momentum. We never had it, but we gave them more.”
Klopp added that his would have to recover physically and mentally, but that the second part is difficult when you lose a game like this.
“West Ham will probably be waiting for us [on Saturday] and rubbing their hands, hoping that we turn up on one leg, but we have to recover for that,” Klopp said.
The jubilant Everton supporters celebrated their team’s victory with fervent enthusiasm, staying at Goodison Park long after the final whistle to sing and applaud the players. Manager Sean Dyche attributed the win to the loyal fans who have endured a challenging season marked by two points deductions imposed by the Premier League.
“That win is for the people,” Dyche said. “We should be on 41 points and thestory’s different. But thats now three clean sheets in three home games. The challenge for the players is to go and do it again.
“We spoke about the desire and the energy of the team and the physical side of the game. The lads did it on Sunday and they’ll have to do it again. That’s the challenge.”
Sources close to Liverpool have revealed that the club has shifted its focus to Feyenoord coach Arne Slot as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp after cooling their interest in Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim.
Slot has emerged as the top candidate ahead of Amorim and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi in the race to replace Klopp, especially after top target Xabi Alonso opted to stay with Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Liverpool anticipates competition from Barcelona and Bayern Munich for Slot’s signature, prompting them to continue assessing other candidates.
Klopp’s impending departure, announced in January, has spurred Liverpool’s CEO Billy Hogan and former sporting director Michael Edwards to adopt a “data-led” approach to finding his successor.
Slot, who guided Feyenoord to the Dutch title last season, has impressed the Liverpool hierarchy with his style of play, personality, and ability to work within the club’s structure.
Despite Feyenoord’s efforts to retain him, there is optimism at Anfield that Slot may be tempted by the allure of the Premier League.
Liverpool, currently second in the Premier League, are gearing up for a crucial derby against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday, with their managerial search ongoing.
Liverpool’s hopes for securing the Premier Leaguetitle took a significant blow with their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, a match in which Jurgen Klopp pinpointed a crucial flaw in his team’s performance.
Eberechi Eze’s goal in the 14th minute at Anfield ultimately sealed the victory for Palace, as Liverpool struggled to breach Dean Henderson’s goal.
Despite the opportunity to leapfrog into the top spot if they had won and Arsenal lost to Aston Villa, Liverpool fell short. Klopp elaborated on the key issue behind their loss at Anfield against Oliver Glasner’s side.
Speaking after the match, Klopp said [via The Athletic]: “We had moments that didnât end up in front of our goal, where we were just not together.
“Let me say it like that, if you press 80 percent, you better not press at all because it makes no sense. We were here and there. “Curtis (Jones) was really going for it, following through; besides that first line, which was too far away from each other, no one pulled; (Alexis) Mac Allister and Wataru (Endo) couldnât do it; and the last line was too deep as well.â
Despite Klopp’s Liverpool being renowned for their exceptional pressing game, recent matches have highlighted a slight dip in this aspect for the Merseyside club.
Before succumbing to Crystal Palace, they faced a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home against Atalanta in the Europa League, drawing criticism towards the players’ dedication.
Now, with only sixPremier League matches left, Klopp’s team must maintain flawless performances and rely on Manchester City and Arsenal slipping up if they are to clinch the title in what could be Klopp’s final season in charge of the club.
The journalist responsible for provokingJurgen Klopp’s departure from a post-match interview has disclosed the subsequent actions of the irate Liverpool manager.
Klopp, visibly displeased following his team’s dramatic 4-3 loss to arch-rivals Manchester United in an intense FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford, faced inquiries about his team’s alleged lack of intensity in extra time, particularly as Amad Diallo secured a decisive 121st-minute victory.
Klopp said, before walking off: âCome on! You are obviously not in a great shape. I don’t have the nerve for this.â Niels Christian Frederiksen was asking the questions and he has told Tipsbladet of how tensions continued to run high after the cameras stopped rolling: âI was very surprised by it, and those standing around were scared, and they were almost pressed up against the wall like: ‘wow, what the hell just happened here?’ It continued after what was seen on TV. He continued down the hallway, where he yelled and screamed at me. I also followed him because I thought it was something strange. I was very surprised, while some looked very shocked, and they asked: ‘Are you okay?’ and of course I’m okay.
“I have interviewed Jurgen many times. I don’t know him personally, but I’ve been to Mainz several times when Leon Andreasen and Mohamed Zidan were there, and I have also interviewed him in Dortmund and many times during his time in Liverpool. So we don’t have a bad relationship at all. I know that when you’re one of the world’s best coaches, and you have been for years, it doesn’t come if you’re not the world’s worst loser. The premise of being a good coach is that you don’t like to lose and that you are a winner.â
Frederiksen added on the unfortunate incident: âI interpret it mostly as an expression of his terrible frustration that they lost to Manchester United in the manner it happened, where they were ahead twice and should have sealed the deal. His dream scenario was to play an FA Cup final at Wembley in his last match in England, and that’s been taken from him now. So I can understand he’s super frustrated. Then he got a question he didn’t think was appropriate.
It’s been a theme for them that they’ve had many injuries and many matches, which he has complained about. Then he got a question about why they didn’t have intensity in the game, and then he snapped. That’s fair enough. I have absolutely no problem with that. There will be absolutely no problems in the future. I can’t imagine that at all. When I interview him again, we’ll still be good friends – professionally speaking. I don’t think he holds a grudge, and I certainly don’t.â
Liverpool held the lead twice againstManchester United, both in regular time and after Harvey Elliott’s goal in extra time. However, they failed to maintain their advantage, leading to jubilant celebrations from their rivals as the Red Devils advanced to Wembley for a semi-final clash against surprise contender Coventry City.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp criticised referee Chris Kavanagh’s officiating during the Carabao Cup final, stating that Kavanagh lacked the necessary competence for such an important match.
Klopp’s frustration stemmed from Kavanagh’s failure to take action against MoisĂŠs Caicedo for his tackle on Ryan Gravenberch, which resulted in the Netherlands international being carried off on a stretcher just 22 minutes into the game against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
Despite replays highlighting the severity of Caicedo’s challenge on Gravenberch’s left ankle, referee Kavanagh allowed play to continue without intervention, and the incident was not reviewed by VAR.
Klopp expressed surprise and disappointment at the officials’ decision not to review the incident, which further compounded Liverpool’s injury woes, with 11 senior players currently sidelined.
“There were two teams fighting very hard, and the referee didn’t have the level of the game,” Klopp said. “It [Caicedo’s challenge] was not even a foul? Then the fourth official explained that we cannot give a card… Good idea.
“This situation was obvious for meâeverything you need for a card. They did an x-ray [on Gravenberch]. It is not broken, but the ligaments got something.”
Liverpool are back in action against Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday and Klopp said that he could struggle to name a team to face the EFL Championship side.
“We don’t have a team right now for Wednesday,” he said. “The guys who came on can maybe play again; the rest will get treatment on Monday.
“I love this country to bits, but the schedule is not made for winning a lot. We will see the price we have to pay, but if we fight for everything, then we will see what comes next. Somehow, against Southampton, there will be a team in Liverpool shirts.”
Liverpool’s win against Chelsea, sealed by Virgil van Dijk’s 118th-minute headed goal, was the first of four potential trophies for the club in what will be Klopp’s final season as manager.
The contribution of the club’s youngsters was crucial, with three teenagers and two 20-year-olds all involved at some stage.
“What happened here was absolutely insane; these things are not possible,” Klopp said. “The team, a squad, an academy full of character. I am so proud that I could be part of that tonight.
“The craziest thing is we deserved it. We had lucky moments, and they had lucky moments. The boys showed up; it was really cool. We needed fresh legs; they were fresh but very young, but they did the job.”
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has offered a response to Jurgen Klopp’s assertion that Liverpool is not the favourite for the Carabao Cup final.
However, the Premier League standings paint a contrasting picture, with Liverpool holding a commanding lead of 25 points over Pochettino’s Chelsea, who currently sit in 10th place.
However, with Liverpool in the midst of an injury crisis, Klopp recently said, “Will we be big favourites? Definitely not. Since we played them (Chelsea), they have improved a lot, and it will be tricky.”
Pochettino has now responded to Klopp’s comments at his pre-final press conference, hinting that the German might be playing mind games ahead of their Wembley showdown.
“Because he’s one of the best, with Pep, coaches in the world. He’s clever enough,” he began. “He knows that when you play a final, circumstances can happen. If they are not favourites, we are not favourites [laughs]. They have the experience to compete like a team, be involved in different finals. For some of us, it’s maybe their first final. He is clever enough.”
The Reds will be missing key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Curtis Jones, and Diogo Jota for the final. However, Klopp remains hopeful that Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, and Dominik Szoboszlai, who were absent during Wednesday’s victory over Luton Town, might still play a role in some capacity.
Thiago Silva’s availability for Chelsea is uncertain, although Pochettino refrained from definitively ruling out the Brazilian for Sunday’s highly-anticipated clash.
This marks the third meeting between Liverpool and Chelsea in the League Cup final. Chelsea secured victory after extra time in 2005, marking Jose Mourinho’s inaugural trophy at Stamford Bridge. In 2022, Liverpool emerged triumphant, with stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher scoring the decisive penalty in a thrilling shootout.
All eyes will be on Wembley this weekend for what promises to be a captivating final.
Following the match, Chelsea will turn their attention to FA Cup action against Leeds United the following Wednesday, aiming to remain competitive in pursuit of additional silverware during what has been a challenging season.
Jurgen Klopp has praised Conor Bradley for his outstanding performance against Chelsea and shared that a Liverpool staff member spotted his talent.
The young player, who graduated from the Reds academy, scored his first Liverpool goal in a remarkable 4-1 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday evening.
The 20-year-old played a crucial role, contributing two assists to set up goals for Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai. Bradley received a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd when he was substituted in the second half.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp was questioned about his knowledge of Bradley’s ability and said, “What a great night, what an atmosphere, what a football game; it was a screamer. Yeah, I knew it for a while because in the left ear is Pep Lijnders and in the right ear is Vitor Matos. I remember Pep sat in my office and saying, âIâd put both hands in fire for him!â I loved him from the first day; I didnât need a lot of convincing.
“The thing is, Conor showed up extremely well in pre-season and did extremely well at Bolton [on loan]. Comes back, looks top in pre-season, wow, and then is out for five months [or] four months, [with] these kinds of issues that only young people have, but thank God then time can sort it out. At our age, it would not get better but in that age group, it gets better.
“He is incredible. The fans were already singing his name. He is flying and rightly so. He is working hard and he is a great footballer. People said in the summer we needed another right-back but we were very positive about Conor.”
Conor Bradley is experiencing his dream at Anfield and has been a standout performer for Klopp recently. He made a significant impact during the 5-2 victory against Norwich in the FA Cup, providing two assists, and also contributed to another goal in his league debut against Bournemouth on January 21.
Bradley’s exceptional form as a right-back may prompt Klopp to utilise Trent Alexander-Arnold more in midfield. However, the full-back will face a tough challenge when he travels to the Emirates to face fellow title contender Arsenal this Sunday in a highly anticipated Premier League match.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says his love of football ensures he’s never stressed, following news Jurgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool.
Klopp’s announcement that he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season shocked the football world, with the German admitting he was “running out of energy” after almost nine years in the job at Anfield.
Pochettino has been asked how he is able to switch off from the pressures of running a football club and he says his passion for the game gives him all the energy he needs.
He told reporters, “Football never stresses you. It never makes you spend energy in the wrong way; it’s always in the right way. It always affects the environment. In football now, it’s business, so maybe that affects a little bit the coaches. But specific football, when I am involved in the training session, when we are in the game, even when I am with you here [at the press conference], we recharge the energy. It’s like, you feel the boost of energy because you love to coach and you love to do your job.
“There are new things that appear in football and this business, and I think that affects a lot, maybe the energy. It’s difficult to explain. It’s important to have good people around you to provide the moments when to stop and when to go away. I remember 10 or 15 years ago, it was really weird to see a manager or coaching staff spending more than 12 hours on the training ground. But now, it’s the normal way. We all arrive at 7 a.m. and are leaving at 5 p.m., 7, 8 or 9. It’s not easy to manage because it’s almost 24 hours, but then when you go home after 12 hours at the training ground, [you are on the] phone to the owners, sporting directors, and all sorts of different people. That is also difficult to disconnect and that’s why sometimes it’s difficult.
“But football is our passion. And of course, Jurgen, after a few months away or at home, for definitely start to miss the adrenaline of the competition, the training sessions, and communicating with your staff, the players, and the people. I think when you are involved in the game, you miss another part of it, but when you are in another part, you start to miss the part that was really important for you.”
Klopp isn’t the only manager to open up about the huge pressures on football managers. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta recently explained how he uses meditation to relax. Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Xavi, who will also leave his job at the end of the season, has said it’s a “cruel” job where he has been made to feel “worthless every day.”
Chelsea is set to face Liverpool at Anfield in the upcoming Premier League clash on Wednesday night. A triumph for the home team would mark Jurgen Klopp’s 200th Premier League win with the Reds. Notably, achieving this victory would make Klopp reach the milestone in record time, surpassing any other manager in the club’s history.
The manager showcased his skills this season with a strong comeback, reclaiming the top spot in the Premier League.
Despite the surprising nature of his decision, Klopp acknowledged that it might be a shock to many.
Regardless of whether he achieves victory this year or not, his decision is commendable, recognising the well-being of both himself and the club.
Jurgen Klopp
This perspective was recently shared by a Scottish pundit who has witnessed Liverpool’s transformation from a trophyless period to triumph.
The club had been without a Premier League trophy since its inception in 1992 until Klopp led them to victory in 2020. However, even the best have their limits, and Klopp is no exception.
Soccer can take a toll on even the most accomplished individuals. Pep Guardiola, for instance, recently criticised FIFA and UEFA for their congested schedules.
In contrast, Klopp’s decision to address his burnout in a different way has been praised by former Chelsea player Craig Burley.
Speaking to ESPN FC, Burley said, âI think itâs admirable.â âAnd I totally understand that itâs constant these days. And I think weâve been preaching about schedules for players. But itâs not just the players; itâs the managers and the support staff.â
Since joining Liverpool in October 2015, Jurgen Klopp, the German manager, has faced the challenge of building strategies with limited resources.
Unlike other big six clubs, Klopp had to work with a modest squad and lacked the financial flexibility to make significant investments. In fact, he is recognised for having the lowest net spend among his rivals, amounting to approximately $322.8 million.
Despite these financial constraints, the 56-year-old manager successfully recruited key players like Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, who played crucial roles in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign.
Klopp, who envisioned achieving a league title upon his arrival, acknowledges that sustaining this success for more than nine years has become overwhelming for him, leading to his decision to step down.
Last seasonâs disappointment one of the main reasons for Kloppâs exit
Last season was one of the worst in Kloppâs tenure at Merseyside. Liverpool finished 5th in the Premier League. This meant that they could not qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since Jurgen Klopp joined. Hence, rebuilding this season might have added to the energy depletion that Klopp was talking about.
Klopp recently said, âI realised that my resources are not endless. I preferred to give absolutely everything to this season and then have a break or to stop.â
Hence, Burley has acknowledged and empathised with the German talisman.
Jurgen Klopp has expressed uncertainty about taking on another managerial role following his unexpected decision to leave Liverpool on Friday.
However, he has clarified that he has no plans to manage a different club in England. Klopp, who has enjoyed 8½ successful years at Liverpool with seven major trophies, is currently leading his team’s pursuit of winning all four major trophies available in the ongoing campaign.
“If you ask me now if I will ever manage again,? I would say no.” Klopp said. “But you don’t know, obviously, as I’ve never had this situation. But I do know definitely I will never manage a different club in England than Liverpool. It is impossible.
“I will find something else to do. But I will not manage a club or country for at least a year.”
"I will never ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool" â¤ď¸
Jurgen Klopp discusses his future after announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/Tn7LAE8auG
At the age of 56, Klopp took over as Liverpool manager in 2015, bringing new life to a team that had been struggling against top English teams. He achieved significant success, winning the Champions League in 2019âhis inaugural trophy with Liverpoolâand securing the team’s first Premier League title in 2020.
The unexpected announcement of Klopp’s departure on Friday surprised the football community, especially considering that he had signed a contract extension in 2022, originally set to expire at the end of the 2025â26 season. Bayern Munich’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, expressed his astonishment at Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool during a news conference on Friday.
“I have to digest that first. ⌠Kloppo is one of the very best coaches in the world; he has always managed to influence the clubs where he worked. It’s big news,” Tuchel said.
Last season marked Klopp’s most challenging period at Liverpool, as they ended fifth in the Premier League, failing to secure Champions League qualification. However, Liverpool has bounced back strongly this season, currently leading the Premier League table and still competing for success in the Europa League,FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Jurgen Klopp has expressed uncertainty about taking on another managerial role following his unexpected decision to leave Liverpool on Friday.
However, he has clarified that he has no plans to manage a different club in England. Klopp, who has enjoyed 8½ successful years at Liverpool with seven major trophies, is currently leading his team’s pursuit of winning all four major trophies available in the ongoing campaign.
“If you ask me now if I will ever manage again? I would say no.” Klopp said. “But you don’t know, obviously, as I’ve never had this situation. But I do know definitely I will never manage a different club in England than Liverpool. It is impossible.
“I will find something else to do. But I will not manage a club or country for at least a year.”
At the age of 56, Klopp took over as Liverpool manager in 2015, bringing new life to a team that had been struggling against top English teams. He achieved significant success, winning the Champions League in 2019âhis inaugural trophy with Liverpoolâand securing the team’s first Premier League title in 2020.
"I will never ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool" â¤ď¸
Jurgen Klopp discusses his future after announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/Tn7LAE8auG
The unexpected announcement of Klopp’s departure on Friday surprised the football community, especially considering that he had signed a contract extension in 2022, originally set to expire at the end of the 2025â26 season. Bayern Munich’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, expressed his astonishment at Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool during a news conference on Friday.
“I have to digest that first. ⌠Kloppo is one of the very best coaches in the world; he has always managed to influence the clubs where he worked. It’s big news,” Tuchel said.
Last season marked Klopp’s most challenging period at Liverpool, as they ended fifth in the Premier League, failing to secure Champions League qualification. However, Liverpool has bounced back strongly this season, currently leading the Premier League table and still competing for success in the Europa League,FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Jurgen Klopp intends to rebuild Liverpool after a disappointing season
“I told the club already in November,” Klopp said. “I have to explain a little bit that maybe the job I do people see from the outside, I’m on the touchline and in training sessions and stuff like this, but the majority of all the things happen around these kinds of things. That means a season starts and you plan pretty much the next season already.
“When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore,’ and I was surprised myself by that. I obviously started thinking about it.
“It didn’t start [then], but of course last season was kind of a super difficult season and there were moments when at other clubs probably the decision would have been, ‘Come on, thank you very much for everything but probably we should split here or end it here.’ That didn’t happen here, obviously.
“For me, it was super, super, super important that I can help bring this team back onto the rails. It was all I was thinking about. When I realised pretty early that happenedâit’s a really good team with massive potential, a super age group, super characters and all thatâthen I could start thinking about myself again and that was the outcome. It is not what I want to [do], it is just what I think is 100 percent right.”
The Reds (Liverpool) are reeling right now after their charismatic boss announced that he will walk away at the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp saidof his decision to stand down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season, “I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people at this moment.” That’s probably the understatement of the century.
Friday morning’s announcement has taken the whole world of football by surprise. Nobody saw this coming. Not now, not with Klopp’s construction of a second great team at Anfield going better than anyone envisaged.
Despite overhauling their entire midfield last summer, Liverpool are top of the Premier League and still in contention to win three cup competitions.
Klopp says he’s “running out of energy,” and that is understandable, given just how much he’s invested in the club since taking over in 2015.
Klopp only ever wanted to make the people happy His love of Liverpool is very real; it’s been obvious from the moment he arrived at Anfield. He’s always just got it. In the very best traditions of the club, he’s only ever wanted to make the people happy.
So, it’s not in the least bit surprising that he’s worn out and that his renowned work ethic has taken a heavy toll on him.
There’s also no denying that there were times last season when he both looked and sounded exhausted. Results weren’t going his way but there was an unusual level of agitation about him, a surprising sensitivity to certain lines of questioning.
Amid all of this, it was pointed out that he’d never done more than seven years at his two previous clubs in Germany, prompting talk that history was repeating itself on Merseyside.
Evoking memories of the ‘champions of everything’
However, Klopp has appeared refreshed and reinvigorated since returning for pre-season, visibly relishing the task of putting Liverpool back on their perch after a trophy-less and trying 2023-24 campaign.
His renewed optimism and belief has been reflected in the fantastic performances of his team. Liverpool 2.0 haven’t just represented a serious upgrade on last season’s side; they have been evoking memories of the ‘champions of everything’.
And how many sides in history have ever better represented a manager on the field? At their best, Klopp’s Liverpool are industrious, passionate and absolutely relentless.
Problems behind the scenes?
That’s why this decision is so surprising. Klopp has looked like his old self this season. There have been no signs of fatigue or frustration.
Of course, there will be rumours that there’s more to his imminent departure than tiredness. There will inevitably be talk of dissatisfaction behind the scenes.
Several key figures have quit the club over the past couple of years and there has been constant chatter about the Fenway Sports Group’s alleged reluctancy to seriously back Klopp in the transfer market.
But Klopp says that this is “the truth”and that he was left with no option but to walk away at the end of the season. He’ll never walk alone, of course.
A Liverpool legend Klopp will go down as one of the greatest managers in the club’s history, a true Liverpool legend. He took a club in utter disarray and transformed it into one of the world’s bestâand without state support.
There were, of course, big money-buys along the way but Klopp worked wonders with nearly every player that arrived at the club. So many signings went to a whole other level on his watch.
But there was more to it than that. Anfield adored Klopp because of his character and the fans will be forever indebted to and enamoured with a ridiculously charismatic manager whose tactical genius is matched only by the warmth of his personality.
‘Let’s now really go for it’ The void he will leave behind will be almost impossible to fill and there is a legitimate fear that everything he has built at Anfield will come crashing down after he’s gone.
He’s determined to go out on a a high of course. “Let’s now really go for it,” he implored, and there’s no doubt that that call will be heeded by his players and the fans.
But even he knows that Liverpool’s rivals are greeting this news with glee: “The outside world wants to use this decision; laugh about it.” And that’s spot on.
Opposition fans know full well that Klopp has been the key to Liverpool’s success over the past nine years.
The day Liverpool fans had been dreading For that very reason, he’s earned the right to bow out on his terms. And he’ll receive one emotional send-off after another as the season draws to an end.
He may also get the happy ending he deserves. He’s already set up at least one more Wembley outing, with Liverpool set to play Chelsea in the League Cup final next month.
But while Liverpool fans will savour the chance to express their gratitude to Klopp, they’ll also be feeling extremely anxious right now about what comes next.
Nothing lasts forever, of course. Klopp pointed out that Liverpool and its fans have been through, and come through, far worse. This dreaded day was always going to come eventually, he said.
It’s just that nobody thought it would arrive so soon. This isn’t just a shock for Liverpool supporters; it’s a disaster.
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
In a surprising announcement at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he will step down from his position as Liverpool manager at the conclusion of the current season.
Klopp, who assumed the managerial role in October 2015, succeeding Brendan Rodgers, has led Liverpool to victories in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup during his tenure on Merseyside.
Klopp has now revealed that he will be stepping down at the end of the 2023â24 campaign, telling Liverpoolâs official website: âI can understand that itâs a shock for a lot of people in this moment when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain itâor at least try to explain it.
Jurgen Klopp is convinced Mohamed Salah’s goalscoring form will return
I love absolutely everything about this club; I love everything about the city; I love everything about our supporters; I love the team; and I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take. It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy?
JĂźrgen Klopp announce he will LEAVE Liverpool at the end of the season đą
“I have no problem now; obviously, I knew it already for longer that I would have to announce it at some point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again. After the years we had together after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth, and that is the truth.â
Kloppâs contract was due to run until the summer of 2026, but he added on informing the Reds of his decision to move on: âI told the club already in November. I have to explain a little bit that maybe the job I do people see from the outside, Iâm on the touchline and in training sessions and stuff like this, but the majority of all the things happen around these kinds of things. That means a season starts and you plan pretty much the next season already. When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, âI am not sure I am here then anymoreâ and I was surprised myself by that.
“I obviously start thinking about it. It didnât start [then], but of course last season was kind of a super-difficult season and there were moments when at other clubs probably the decision would have been, âCome on, thank you very much for everything but probably we should split here or end it here.â That didnât happen here, obviously. For me, it was super, super, super-important that I could help bring this team back onto the rails. It wasall I was thinking about. When I realised pretty early that happenedâit’s a really good team with massive potential, a super age group, super characters and all thatâthen I could start thinking about myself again and that was the outcome. It is not what I want to do; it is just what I think is 100 percent right.â
Klopp has managed Liverpool for over 460 games, achieving an impressive win ratio of 60.7 percent. His successful tenure places him in esteemed company alongside managerial greats such as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley at Anfield. Klopp has the potential to conclude his time with Liverpool with additional medals, as the class of 2024 is still competing for honours in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and Europa League.
Mohamed Salah is set to make a return to Liverpool for treatment on his posterior injury.
However, this will happen only after he observes Egypt’s completion of their group fixtures at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, where they are scheduled to face the Cape Verde Islands in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Monday.
The Egypt Football Association (EFA) has confirmed that Salah will resume his treatment at the club, as suggested earlier by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp following their convincing 4-0 victory in the Premier League against Bournemouth on Sunday.
Despite Salah’s return to Liverpool, there is still optimism within the Egyptian camp that he might be able to contribute to the tournament, indicating a glimmer of hope for his potential involvement.
“We are hoping to catch him in the semifinals of the Africa Nations Cup in case of qualification,” the EFA said in a statement.
Salah sustained the injury during the match against Ghana on Thursday, and as of now, there is no specified timeline for his recovery. Despite facing the media on Saturday in the Ivory Coast, Salah avoided addressing inquiries about the severity of the injury.
Earlier in the day, Klopp had expressed his anticipation of Salah’s return to Liverpool for rehabilitation, emphasizing the likelihood of him working closely with the medical staff during this period.
“That’s the plan,” Klopp said. “However long he is out, it probably makes sense for everybody to [rehab] with us [in Liverpool] or with our people. That’s the plan. If that’s written in stone already, I don’t know.”
Klopp mentioned that he communicated with Salah on the night of the injury, clarifying that all subsequent contact has been with the Liverpool medical staff. Klopp also indicated that if Salah’s recovery progresses rapidly, there remains a possibility of his return to the AFCON to support Egypt.
“I’m not a doctor,” Klopp said. “I would say if Egypt qualifies for the final then probably yes. Ivory Coast, I’m sure it’s a wonderful country, but we have no people from us there. They have people who have to take care of the players who are playing.”
Salah said on Saturday of the injury: “I am happy to be here; my injury is still there but the most important thing is to speak about the game. We have great players and a great team and we just need to fight and see what is going to happen.”
Despite Salah’s absence, Liverpool comfortably beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday to extend their lead to five points at the top of the Premier League. Darwin Núùez and Diogo Jota grabbed two goals apiece in the second half, and Klopp was delighted with their performances.
After a tense first half, Klopp changed things up at the break and played Núùez on the left and Jota through the middle.
“In the moment we find rhythm, we are strong,” Klopp said. “We should start the games better but it’s about 98 minutes; it’s about winning the games in the end. As long as you stay in the game, today, step by step, we found a way and we won.”
While it was the forwards who grabbed the match-winning goals, Klopp was also thrilled with the controlled performance from Alexis Mac Allister at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield.
“Absolutely exceptional performance; I’m so happy for us but for him as well. He’s a really good footballer and defensively, he, he did a job and offensively, he’s a super important player for us. He’s calm on the ball and the good things in the first half were him,” Klopp said.
The manager was also delighted with Conor Bradley’s performance at right-backin his Premier League debut. “Pretty good, really good, very impressive,” Klopp said. “Wonderful kid, really hard worker and a good footballer. It was a good game.”
Jurgen Klopp experienced a shift from delight to dismay during Liverpool’s significant Premier League victory, as he briefly misplaced his wedding ring in the post-match celebrations on Monday.
A sharp-eyed TV cameraperson played a crucial role in spotting the ring in the midst of the Anfield pitch. Klopp, visibly relieved, responded by kissing the ring in front of the cameras.
“I had a massive shock,” Klopp said, “but it’s back.” The incident occurred shortly after Liverpool secured a 4-2 victory over Newcastle United, elevating Klopp’s team three points ahead of Aston Villa in the standings.
After congratulating his players and moving towards the fans with applause, Klopp suddenly noticed the absence of his wedding ring. In a quest to find it, he thoroughly searched the grass around his location, even seeking assistance from a steward.
Fortunately, the person operating the camera for British broadcaster Sky Sports informed Klopp about the whereabouts of his ring, resolving the brief moment of concern.
“Oh my God, that would have been really awful,” Klopp said. “I lost it once in my life — I needed a professional diver because it was in the sea.
“From time to time, when I lose one or two kilos, it’s not the right fit anymore.”
James Milner has shared an anecdote about a time he found himself on the wrong side of Jurgen Klopp, resulting in the Liverpool manager instructing him to “shut the f*ck up.”
The former Reds player, who spent eight years at Anfield before joining Brighton in the summer of 2023, was a favourite figure under Klopp.
Throughout his 332 appearances for Liverpool, Milner’s versatility proved invaluable as he secured honours in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Despite his success, Milner acknowledges that special treatment from Klopp was not always guaranteed.
Milner has told the High Performance podcast of incurring Kloppâs wrath: âHe was pretty good most of the time; he was open. Maybe not at half time; we had one occasion where he was sharing his thoughts and I was sharing mine and I remember him smashing his hands down on the table like, âwill you shut the f*ck up?!â But Jurgen was brilliant. I had a great relationship with him off the field as well; he supported our charity (the James Milner Foundation) as well.â
Milner went on to say of what makes Klopp such a great manager, with the German tactician earning legend status at Anfield: âAn amazing manager but I always felt like most of the time he was open and even if he didnât feel like the conversation, he gave you stuff back so you felt like heâd thought about it afterwards.
“Even if he didnât tell you that, youâd see it with the things he did after and I felt like he was good at taking things on board. Heâs a leader; he makes the decisions, but if youâve put something in his head and itâs helped, he was pretty good at listening to things like that. I saw him change a lot in the time I was there.â
Jurgen Klopp is currently under contract with Liverpool until 2026.
He has indicated that he plans to step down at the conclusion of that contract.
By then, he will have devoted more than a decade to the club, and the stresses of coaching in thePremier League will likely prompt him to take a well-deserved break.
Klopp disclosed that while the injury to his top goalkeeper, Alisson, was not as serious as initially thought, he would still be sidelined for several crucial matches.
Alisson sustained the injury during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City over the weekend, visibly holding his lower leg in injury time. Klopp expressed concern after the game and was uncertain about the goalkeeper’s return timeline.
Although Alisson’s recovery is expected to be quicker than initially feared, Klopp expressed a more pessimistic outlook for Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, who also picked up a knock in the match against City.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League clash with Austrian side LASK, Klopp said: “Both [Alisson and Jota] are out. Ali is a bit less [worrying]. It is day by day. He cannot play tomorrowânot on Sunday, probably not the week after. Not as bad, but bad enough. Diogo should take a little bit longer. We don’t know exactly how long, but it is more severe. We have to see.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1mP6_Qbrdg
Alisson, regarded as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, faces a challenging period of absence, posing a potential setback to Liverpool’s pursuit of the title this season.
Despite this, there remains a hopeful prospect of his return for the crucial clashagainst rivals Manchester United on December 17.
The injury to Alisson opens a rare opportunity for Caoimhin Kelleher to showcase his skills as the goalkeeper for Liverpool in the Premier League. Although Kelleher has yet to make a league appearance for Liverpool, he has featured in three European matches.
However, Liverpool’s injury woes persist, with Jota and Alisson joining the list of absentees, including Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, and Andy Robertson.
In their upcoming match against LASK, a victory would secure Liverpool’s qualification to the Europa League knockout stage.
Nevertheless, they are likely to face challenges in the Premier League games against Fulham, Sheffield United, and Crystal Palace, with the potential return of Alisson against Manchester United.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has chosen Ghanaian defender Jarell Quansah as the Man of the Match in recognition of his performance against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup match on Wednesday night.
During the match, Quansah, who was born in England but represents Ghana, played the full duration as Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, allowing them to advance to the next stage of the Cup competition.
Quansah formed a defensive partnership with Joel Matip and was impressed with his performance. Notably, he made the most pass attempts out of all players in the game, totaling 97 passes with an 89% completion rate.
Speaking after the game, Klopp heaped praise on the Ghanaian defender following his outstanding performance during the game.
âJarell Quansah was my Man of the Match. Super game!â.
âStrong in the tackles. We gave him the ball a lot. He had a lot to do. Greatâ. He added.
Liverpool opened the scoring at the Vitality Stadium through Cody Gakpo after 31 minutes into the game.
Dutch international Justin Kluivert scored in the 64th minute to restore parity for the hosts before Darwin Nunez sealed a win for Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Ghana striker Antoine Semenyo lasted 74 minutes as his team bowed out of theCarabao Cup competition.
Jurgen Klopp has called for a replay of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, citing VAR’s failure to intervene when Luis Diaz’s ‘goal’ was disallowed.
Klopp made this remarkable assertion during his press conference in preparation for Liverpool’s Europa League encounter with Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield.
“As a football person, I think the outcome should be a replay,” the German coach said. “The audio didn’t change it at all. It’s important that we deal with it in a proper way. They didn’t do it on purpose; we should not forget that.”
Video Assistant Referee Darren England was unable to correct an erroneous on-field decision that led to the disallowance of a Luis Diaz ‘goal’ in Liverpool’s match against Spurs on Saturday. This incident took place with the score level, and Liverpool ultimately suffered a 2-1 defeat.
The PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) supplied Liverpool with an audio recording capturing the communication between the on-field referees and the VAR officials. Subsequently, the recording was made public.
The recording shows that England carried out a check of the goal but mistakenly believed that the on-field decision had been ‘goal’.
It was only after he told referee Simon Hooper that the check was complete and play resumed that he realised that his saying “check complete” had upheld the incorrect offside call.
PGMOL put the mistake down to ‘a significant human error’. Liverpool published a statement saying that the sporting integrity of the game had been undermined and that the club would “explore the range of options available, given the clear need for escalation and resolution.”
England and assistant VAR Dan Cook have been removed from their respective officiating roles scheduled for Sunday and Monday, and they will not participate in any matches during the upcoming weekend.
Manager of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, attributes Pep Guardiola’s enduring success at Manchester City to his consistent winning record. He said Pep âwins everythingâ.
These two highly regarded tacticians in the world of football have frequently clashed while leading two prominent Premier League clubs. Both managers have celebrated domestic league titles and relished victories in the Champions League.
Klopp has held his position at Anfield since October 2015, while Guardiola assumed the managerial role at the Etihad Stadium in 2016. They are both committed to their current contracts for at least two more years, and fans can anticipate their ongoing pursuit of prestigious trophies both domestically and on the international stage.
Liverpool manager Klopp has told TNT Sports when asked if he takes inspiration from long-serving greats of the game: âI never thought I will be one of them, so I forgot to look at them. It just happened. I’ve only had three clubs so each club has had a different story, a different starting point.
“What everybody wants to seeâthe CEOs, the presidents of the club – is that their team is in good hands, that they see development, and that it goes in the right direction. For whatever reasonâI don’t know exactly, I could deliver that somehow, and that’s why I was allowed to work longer in clubs.With Pep, it is easier to see, because he wins everything, so why would you send him on the road?â
Klopp, who worked at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund before making his way to Merseyside, added: âI never compared myself with the real greats of the business who worked for nearly 20 years or longer in big clubs. I really think it’s only possible in big clubs, or you are a man of the club.
“In Germany we have a similar story with Christian Streich [manager of SC Freiburg since 2011, and involved in coaching at the club since 1995]. Otherwise, it’s only possible in big clubs where you have success from time to time, because otherwise people want to have a change, and that’s their right.â
Jurgen Klopp’s contract with Liverpool is set to extend until the summer of 2026, marking over a decade of his tenure at Anfield. However, there are ongoing speculations linking him to the position of the German national team coach whenever that role becomes available. This talk has gained momentum following the recent dismissal of Hansi Flick, the former Bayern Munich manager, from the Die Mannschaft post.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (56) firmly stated on Friday that Mohamed Salah (31) is not available for transfer, and the club has not received any offer from Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad.
Reports in the British media on Thursday indicated that Al Ittihad was making another attempt to secure the services of the Egyptian international. However, Klopp categorically ruled out any potential deal.
Since his arrival at Liverpool in 2017, Salah has been a prolific scorer, netting 187 goals in 307 appearances. His contributions have played a significant role in Liverpool’s triumphs, including winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
“It’s always difficult to talk about media stories because there’s nothing to talk about from our point of view,” Klopp told reporters ahead of Liverpool’s game with Saudi-owned Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday.
“We don’t have an offer,Mo Salah is a Liverpool player. Obviously, for all the things we do, essential is, was, and will be. There’s nothing there, if there were something, the answer would be no.”
The manager also emphasised that Salah, who inked a three-year contract extension last year, remains fully devoted to Liverpool.
During their 3-1 victory against Bournemouth on Saturday, Liverpool faced a red card situation when Alexis MacAllister (24) was sent off, reducing them to 10 players. However, following an appeal, the red card has since been revoked, leading the manager to express immense relief.
“I wasn’t sure after the game so when I saw the pictures back, I was really sure that it’s not a red card,” Klopp said, “but that doesn’t mean immediately that our appeal will be successful.”
Mac Allister is now eligible for the upcoming match against Newcastle, where Klopp will face off against Eddie Howe.
Having assumed the helm of Newcastle in 2021, Howe guided the club to a commendable fourth-place finish in the previous season, securing a spot in the Champions League. Klopp praised Howe as an exceptional coach.
Klopp confirmed that right back Trent Alexander-Arnold (24) is in good shape after departing the field with a minor injury during the Bournemouth match last weekend. Furthermore, midfielders Thiago Alcantara (32) and Curtis Jones (22) are set to be available starting Monday.
However, centre back Ibrahima Konate (24) is grappling with a muscle injury and is uncertain for the upcoming Newcastle game.
JĂźrgen Klopp expects @TrentAA to be fit for our trip to Newcastle United, but Ibrahima Konate is a doubt. #NEWLIV
As Chelsea and Liverpool prepare to begin their Premier League campaignsss this Sunday, Chelsea’s head coach acknowledged a particular aspect in which his counterpart surpasses him.
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, addressed the press on Saturday evening in anticipation of their upcoming match against Liverpool.
Pochettino openly stated that he shares a positive rapport with Liverpool’s manager, Jurgen Klopp.
The Argentine manager went on to express admiration for Klopp’s adeptness at displaying his enthusiasm on the field, commending both his football philosophy and personality.
Pochettino said: “He is better than me at showing his personality! But yes, his passion is there. Yes, I love him. I love him in a good way. I want to beat him on Sunday, but I think it is going to be a good game, and for sure I am going to enjoy seeing him again.
He added: “I enjoy his philosophy for football, how he is, and his character. I like how he is a very warm person; he has his character, and I think his debut was against us at Tottenham.
“Yes, from there, weâve had very good relations. We have some of the same friends who played for Southampton, like Adam Lallana, that creates a good link between us. A player that loves us and Jurgen. It is a good link, communication period between the coaching staff.”
“He is one of the best. He was so nice when I left Tottenham. One of the best messages. He’s doing a great job with Liverpool.
There are good and bad periods, but they really believe in him and give him the best tools to create a good team to fight for every title,” he said
Klopp has always been regarded as one of the best personalities in the game, with the German being lauded multiple times by Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola as well as a lot of his former players. Pochettino’s comments just further cement his status.
The duo will clash on Sunday at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea play host to Liverpool at 4:30 p.m. British Standard Time (BST).
“We laugh about it,” Klopp told Sky Germany. “I can say that I think he’s a really good player but the financial conditions don’t suit us at all. I wouldn’t like to ruin the story now ⌠but as far as I know, there’s nothing to it.
“It’s possible that someone else from the club is preparing something and wants to surprise meâŚthat hasn’t happened in the eight years that I’ve been here.That would be the first time.”
Kylian Mbappe’s the Parisian star has seen many clubs express interest with the Serie A club leading the bidders.
However, few weeks ago, Saudi club, Al-Hilal made world record ÂŁ259m bid for PSG striker after which they were given a greenlight to start talks with Mbappe.
But per reports, Mbappe is not ready to move to Asia.
Jurgen Klopp expressed his satisfaction with Liverpool’s “top-class” training camp in Germany, despite his side being held to a surprising 4-4 draw by second-tier Greuther Furth.
In the behind-closed-doors match, the Reds initially took the lead 1-0 and later extended it to 3-1, but they faced a setback as they fell behind 4-3.
Fortunately, Mohamed Salah scored a last-minute equalizer to salvage a draw and prevent an embarrassing defeat.
Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez (twice) were also among the scorers in the rollercoaster match, and Klopp, who is 56 years old, views the trip to his homeland as a positive experience for his new-look squad.
Despite the mixed result, the training camp appears to have been beneficial for Liverpool’s preparations for the upcoming season.
He told the club’s website: “You could see now, last day of the camp. Travel, play, travel â it is always a bit exhausting.
“But that’s it and you have to go through it, that’s what we did. Most importantly, nobody got injured.
“Of course, nobody wants to concede four goals but you saw in the second half, we were too late in mind, passed the balls too late, first touch not good, and that’s how we brought them back into the game.Â
“We scored, on the other hand, some really, really nice goals, to be honest.
“So, a lot of good individual performances and that’s most important, that we have like 50-ish minutes for everybody and, again, nobody got injured. A good camp and I’m really happy.”
New Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been relishing his recent journey with the club.
The 24-year-old Argentine, who is a World Cup winner, made a move to the Merseyside from Brighton for an initial fee of ÂŁ35 million just last month.
Over the past two weeks, he has showcased his skills in matches against Furth and Karlsruher.
On his opening outings, Mac Allister said: “There is a lot of positive things [to take from the camp].Â
“I am a new player so I still have to know my team-mates, their strengths and their weaknesses, but I think there are really good players here and we can build something important.
“The welcome from the team was amazing and they are helping me every day so I can do my best on the pitch, so it’s a really good team.”
The Reds now head home before a trip to Singapore, where further friendlies against Leicester and Bayern Munich lie in store.Â
Liverpool managerJurgen Klopp has expressed his satisfaction with the impact made by new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai on the squad. The Reds invested almost ÂŁ100 million in securing the midfield duo from Brighton and RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window.
Klopp expects Mac Allister and Szoboszlai to play crucial roles in revitalizing Liverpool’s midfield. He revealed that the first team members were excited to witness the arrival of these highly-rated players, highlighting their potential contributions to the team.
Speaking about his summer acquisitions to Liverpool’s official site, the 56-year-old said: “Very happy [to have signed them]! Two very good players.
“I was immediately thinking about nicknames and I thought it would be great nickname for Alexis â Gary [McAllister]! He plays pretty good football, obviously, the same as Dom.
“I was pretty clear in the moment we signed them, the public reception was pretty good, internally it was outstanding, the boys know about football so they were immediately like, ‘Oh my God’ so that’s really good.
“Now they are here and didn’t take long to impress on the pitch as well, so that’s good.”
The Reds trained as a full group for the first time on Thursday ahead of five pre-season friendlies over the next month, starting with a clash against Karlsruher SC in Germany next week.
Liverpool’s summer signings have begun pre-season training with their new team-mates
Klopp is pleased with the attitude shown so far by his players, who are determined to make the new season a success after an underwhelming 2022-23 campaign.
He added: “We are all full of energy, I think we can say that. It was a good break, it was an important break as well, but it was a long enough one as well.
“Now we are back and the boys are really ready to work, that’s the first impression I got.
“Absolutely [there’s a real buzz]. We don’t have to say it now too often and all the time, but we all know that we want to show a reaction.
“And the reaction doesn’t start on the first matchday, it starts with the first training day.
“That was clear, that’s how we left and that’s how we came back. Yes, there was a proper buzz when everybody was here again.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his admiration for the departing group consisting of James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita.
As their contracts are set to expire next month, these four players will receive a heartfelt farewell at Anfield during the match against Aston Villa.
Having all experienced success as Champions League and Premier League winners, Firmino and Milner, who joined just before Klopp’s appointment in 2015, have particularly stood out with their impactful performances.
Jurgen Klopp
However, Klopp emphasized that each of the four players has made significant contributions to the team’s accomplishments throughout their time at Liverpool.
âWe spoke already with the boys earlier this week about it,â said Klopp.
âIt is super-important for us and kind of super-emotional as well for different reasons because we say goodbye to, from my point of view, four Liverpool legends.
âTwo of them were here when I arrived â Millie (Milner) and Bobby (Firmino) â and nothing of all the good things which happened in the last few years would have happened without them.
âBobby, my God, how much I love the guy. It is 100 per cent deserved.
âMillie played an incredible number of games, I think I am the manager he played the most games for in his career, and probably the same for Bobby.
âMy English is not good enough to really express my respect for them but thatâs the same for Ox (Oxlade-Chamberlain) and Naby, for different reasons.
âOx was unlucky in moments with bad injuries in absolutely the wrong moment. I remember the (2018 Champions League game) against Roma when he got badly injured and I had no clue how to sort that situation as he was that good and pretty much irreplaceable in that moment.
âEveryone knows we spent a lot of money on Naby and there were a lot of expectations and because of injuries in the wrong moments he couldnât fulfil all of them but go back and look at the football he could play in his good moments.â
The Quartet leaving Liverpool soon
Milner has been heavily linked with a move to Brighton, but the futures of the other three are less clear, although they will not be short of offers.
Klopp added: âI wish them all well and hope they find a place where they are as much respected and needed as here and they find their luck again because they had a lot in the last few years.
âAll four won pretty much each available trophy and we love them but it is professional football and nothing is forever.
âThere is always a moment and itâs a good moment because it means one chapter will be closed and we can start writing a new one, which is good as well for them and for us.
âI will be forever thankful to them because without them nothing wouldâve happened. They were super-important in all they did and thatâs the farewell they deserve.â
Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, acknowledges that while his team has experienced miraculous turnarounds in the past, they cannot control their fate regarding Champions League qualification this time.
A month ago, Liverpool was in eighth place, trailing fourth-placed Manchester United by 10 points.
However, their recent streak of six consecutive wins has propelled them to fifth place, just one point behind their rivals, who still have a match to play.
They also came from a seemingly impossible position in the Premier League in 2021 when they they made a late run into the top four, registering eight wins and two draws in their final 10 matches â which included goalkeeper Alisson Becker scoring a 90th-minute winner at West Brom â having been completely out of the running in March.
Klopp said: “It is not that we mention it but everyone who was involved in these moments will never forget it in our entire lives.
“That means it is part of us and, you are right, we were around when miracles happened, that is true, but it was then still in our hands.
“We had to score against West Brom and we had to win against Barcelona. Now we have to win but that does not mean anything changes because the other teams could win all their games.
“I knew weeks ago it was completely out of sight, I couldnât see it at all, but that did not mean we would not try to get closer. Thatâs the only thing we did, we got closer.”
Klopp recalls Liverpool being in the position of the team being chased in his second full season in 2017-18, and he knows it is not easy for the clubs in possession of the qualification places.
However, he does not believe their recent run, coupled with recent defeats for third-placedNewcastle and United, has been able to exert that much pressure on their top-four rivals.
He added: “I am pretty sure we were in a situation like that years ago. I think Chelsea was winning all the time behind us so we had to win all the games.
“Itâs not comfortable but in the end we made it anyway. Newcastle and United would be happy if we would not be there any more, but still it is more likely they will do it.
“I respect that. If they finish the season above us, they deserve it and thatâs how I see it.”
Forward Roberto Firmino is set to return to training next week ahead of what could be his final Anfield appearance.
The Brazil international is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season but has missed the last five matches with a muscle problem.
With Liverpool having only one more home game, against Aston Villa next Saturday, there was a chance the 31-year-old would not get to say his goodbyes on the pitch.
But Klopp raised hopes Firmino could be in his squad for an emotional send-off.
He said: “I saw Bobby in training yesterday and it looks like pretty much he is nearly there, but I donât think he will be in for the weekend.
“If I go out of here and he will be in the session, I would be surprised.
“I assume that we start with him team training-wise after theLeicester game.”
Liverpool has only three games left in the current season.
If they win all three and get some support from teams such asManchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham Hotspur, they could qualify for the Champions League.
The team is expected to undergo significant changes before the next season, with both departures and arrivals expected as part of a significant rebuilding plan for Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
According to Mirror UK, Jorg Schmadtke is set to be appointed as the new sporting director to replace Julian Ward, just a year after replacing the hugely successful Michael Edwards.
Schmadtke will be saddled with the responsibility of overhauling the team. Sports Brief looks at five players whose departures are confirmed, all of whom are leaving due to expired contracts.
1. James Milner
Theveteran midfielder will leave Anfieldafter eight successful years. At 37 years, he is nearing the end of his career but is willing to play for Brighton next season, having agreed to a one-year contract, according to talkSPORT.
2. Roberto Firmino
The Brazilian forward, an important part of a deadly front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, will leave the club in the summer. He is yet to announce his next destination, with Barcelona and AS Roma rumoured to be interested.
3. Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain
The former Arsenal midfielder has been a part-time player at Merseyside but will leave this summer as his contract will not be renewed, according to The Athletic. He could remain in the Premier League, having received interest.
4. Naby Keita
The Guinean midfielder’s injury-ladened time at Anfield is set to end in the summer. According to Metro UK, he cost the Reds ÂŁ52.75m, but things never worked out between the two parties.
5. Arthur Melo
According to Guardian, Liverpool signed Arthur on loan from Juventus for ÂŁ3.75m to solve midfield problems, with an option to make it permanent, but he has made a cameo of just 13 minutes and will return to Italy.
Five midfield options for Liverpool
Sports Brief previously considered five midfielders Liverpool can sign to revamp their midfield after cooling their transfer interest in Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham due to the transfer cost.
Klopp reportedly needs three midfielders, and the club is linked to Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Mason Mount and an out-of-favour Bayern Munich midfielder.
After securing a third straight victory to climb to sixth place in the Premier League, JĂźrgen Klopp wants Liverpool to keep “showing our genuine face.”
Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium came as goals from Cody Gakpo and Joel Matip cancelled out Lucas Paqueta’s early goal.
West Ham manager David Moyes was enraged when a late handball appeal against Thiago Alcantara in the penalty area was denied by both referee Chris Kavanagh and the video assistant referee (VAR).
“I liked the performance a lot,” Klopp said at his post-match press conference. “First half, I think we were exceptional. Controlled the game from the beginning pretty much, made one mistake and bam â 1-0 down. Great goal, I have to say â what a screamer â but [we] stayed calm, kept playing, scored our screamer as well and controlled the game.
“Second half I liked as well. We had to really dig in deep then because of the physicality of West Ham, they always have a chance to come back as long as you don’t kill the game â and we didn’t. [We] had massive chances after set-pieces, I have no clue how we didn’t take them â I didn’t understand it but then [we] scored a wonderful goal from a set-piece.
“I heard now about the handball [but] we were on the other side of that. I thought he just fell on the ball but I can understand Moysey sees that probably completely different.
“In the end, if you look at the game, I think we are the deserved winner and that’s, for me, very important. If we got a point, I’m still happy with the game, not with the result â [but] now I’m happy with both.”
The win took Liverpool within six points of the top four, albeit having played two more games than fourth-placed Manchester United and one more than Newcastle United in third.
On the race for the Champions League spots, Klopp said: “I can’t see the race yet, because we are not in position for a race. The only thing we can do is win football games, if that puts pressure on other teams that’s not in our hands because we don’t play them [United and Newcastle].
“I want us to finish the season as good as somehow possible. I want us to take something out of this season for next year, if that is European competition, great, if not, we have to accept it as well and go from there.
“I want us, at least for a few weeks, [to] show our real face â and not the nice one, the ugly one, the nice one, the ugly one. It’s really tough to do that. So now we did it for kind of three games â three and a half, the second half against Arsenal was brilliant as well.
“We played here plenty of times, it’s always tough. Result-wise, it looked better from time to time but the goals we scored were then counter-attacks, stuff like that, quick reacting, all these kind of things. Tonight we controlled the game in a way we never did before against West Ham and I really liked that.”
Klopp had earlier told BT Sport how pleased he was again with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance in his new hybrid role between right-back and midfield, with the 24-year-old claiming an assist for Gakpo’s goal, and making more passes in the opposition half than anyone else on the pitch (62).
The Liverpool manager refused to entertain the idea that Alexander-Arnold’s new role had led to West Ham’s chances down their right side, and replied to a question about one specific chance that ended with Virgil van Dijk narrowly denying Michail Antonio in the first half: “That had nothing to do with the role of Trent.
“We had three players on the other side in a challenge, so we just don’t win the ball. That means we move to the ball side, that is a risk you take, you should win the ball then.
“Three v one we don’t win the ball, then the other side is open… it has nothing to do with Trent Alexander-Arnold.”
Darwin Nunez, according to Jurgen Klopp, is “a long-term project” at Liverpool and the striker “still adapting” to life with the Reds.
The Uruguayan international, who went to Anfield from Benfica before the current campaign for an initial sum of ÂŁ64 million, has scored 15 goals in 37 games in his first season with Liverpool, who are currently eighth in the Premier League and nine points behind the top four.
However, Nunez has recently had difficulty getting into the game, having started just one of the Reds’ last four games as Klopp opted for a front three of Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota.
But the Reds boss, who will be without Roberto Firmino for the visit of Nottingham Forest on Saturday due to a muscle injury, insists the 23-year-old will get plenty of opportunities between now and the end of the season.
“Darwin is a player with a different skill set to our other players, which is good,” Klopp said during his pre-match press conference. “He’s a real handful, a machine.
“He will score a lot of goals, and he’s scored a decent number already. But of course, he’s still adapting. His English still isn’t great, but we’re working on that.
“He was injured in some moments, suspended in others. This is a long-term project.
“I understand that he wants to play desperately from the beginning, but we have to find a way that really works for us again and then fit in the players we can use with the specific strengths.
“I am completely fine with the situation and I understand that Darwin isn’t always fine. He doesn’t smile in my face when he realises he won’t start and say: ‘thank you, boss’.
“But when you have five or six players available up front, you have to make decisions. The door is miles open. He came on the other night and was exceptional. It was exactly the right way. With five games in the next two weeks, Darwin will start games, definitely.”
With Luis Diaz also returning to fitness in recent weeks, what must Nunez do to give himself the best opportunity to regain his place in the starting line-up?
“The ticket into this team must be and will be counter-pressing,” Klopp added. “We had so many games where I didn’t like that, and it’s a pretty strict thing.
“All five available now can do it pretty well. If you do it in a game you play, then you’ll have a good chance of starting again.
“We have opportunities to change and with five games in the next two weeks, there will be changes. Everyone will play, everyone is super important to us.
“But the ticket will be the desire to win the ball back after we’ve lost it, because we had so many times when that made the difference in games. It’s super important against deep-defending sides.”
Following Liverpool’s 6-1 thrashing of Leeds in Monday’s Premier League match, Jurgen Klopp praisedhis team’s “best game in a long time.”
At Elland Road, two playersâMohamed Salah and Diogo Jotaâeach scored a hat trick after Cody Gakpo’s opening goal and Darwin Nunez’s late goal.
With a game remaining against fifth-place Tottenham, the win brought an end to Liverpool’s five-game losing streak in all competitions and brought Klopp’s team closer to the six-point threshold needed to qualify for the Europa League.
The Liverpool manager pinpointed his side’s intensity as a key factor in arresting their previously poor form.
“I think it’s the best game we’ve played this season from all different perspectives and aspects of the game,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I think we forced a lot of errors, but it was a really good game, sensational goals and counter-pressing â it was the best game for a long time.
“My favourite part was in the 92nd minute we chased the poor boy on the ball from Leeds. I am really happy with that game.”
Klopp elaborated further as he suggested Liverpool have started to click, with a pivotal moment in their season coming after fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Arsenal on April 9 at Anfield.
He added: “It’s a general thing. To play good football you need stability, the stability you only get from defending, but when you are in this kind of negative flow then you make wrong decisions.
“You think to play better you have to be foremost concerned with the offensive stuff. We can be super offensive-orientated, if we react in the right moment.
“I can’t explain why our counter-pressing didn’t work, but tonight it clicked. It clicked in the second half against Arsenal.
“Tonight I’m not sure how many goals we scored after we won the ball back â that makes all the difference and I think we know that.
“But there is always a bit of difference from knowing and understanding and really feeling it.”
16 – Leeds have conceded 16 goals in their four Premier League games in April this year, eight more than any other side, and one more than they shipped in January, February and March combined (15 in 11 games). Foolish. pic.twitter.com/hwvwIiB3J1
Liverpool are nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United and an unlikely Champions League qualification,with Klopp acknowledging a top-four push may be out of the Reds’ reach.
“Where we end up I don’t know, but it will go on after the season, so we need all the games to understand,” he continued.
“The games are super important. If we can’t get anything this season, then we have to build on good performances from this last part of the season.
“I have no clue if we can get close, but I don’t think it’s too important. I would like to see us with the same desire, the same passion, the same understanding that we showed tonight.”
Jurgen Klopp claims he has the hunger to get the Reds back on track and says Liverpool will attempt to be “smart” with whom they sign during the forthcoming transfer window.
They are currently out of all cup competitions and are currently eighth in the Premier League.
A week ago, there were rumours that the club had given up on Jude Bellingham because Borussia Dortmund had raised their asking price, which further infuriated the supporters.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Leeds United on Monday, Klopp said people will just have to “wait and see” when it comes to their transfer plans.
“There’s really nothing to say. You have to wait until we finish our business and then you will see what we did,” he said.
“We have to be ready for praise or criticism. We’ll work from the first day of the new season with the boys and we’ll really go for it â that’s much more important.
“All the rest is speculation from the media. We have nothing to do with that.”
Liverpool have been linked with players such as Mason Mount, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch in recent weeks, and Klopp expressed his belief that those in charge of transfers at the club are well-placed to solve their issues.
“We always try to be smart in our recruitment,” Klopp said. “I am 100 per cent sure that if you gave the power stick to a few people, then next season we’d bring in 20 new players.
“If you gave it to a few others, then we’d bring old players back when we were successful before and stuff like this. We are in charge, that’s what we decided on and let’s go from there.
“It’s an interesting period, very interesting and we always try to be smart in the transfer market, so it’s not completely new to us.”
Klopp is coming to the end of his eighth season in charge at Anfield, with three more years left on his contract, and he remains as driven as ever despite this season’s difficulties.
“Yes, I am still motivated,” he said. “Maybe even more, because now I know everybody here and I feel even more responsible for everything.
“I’ve said it a couple of times, it’s a little bit strange when you have to say ‘I’m fully in’ because maybe people from the outside question it. But no, motivation is absolutely not my problem.”
The German believes he has identified the problems he must solve, and is “looking forward” to the challenge, adding: “The way we defend, that must be much clearer.
“We also have to work on the way we attack and how we control games. It’s a big job, but it’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Such agencies are expected to see a major increase in business as a result of the plans, which reward childminders double for using an agency.
Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said the revelations amounted to âanother day and another accusation of a Conservative prime ministers bending the rulesâ.
âAfter months of Conservative sleaze and scandal, the public just want a government who are focused on the country, rather than saving their own skin.â
Downing Street said the Prime Minister would clarify how the company ownership had been declared as a ministerial interest, rather than to the Commons.
Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, admitted that he is “100% responsible for this crap,” but he is certain that the team can survive its challenging season “in a classy fashion.”
The Reds have had a challenging 2022â23 season after almost losing out on a quadruple last season. They have already been eliminated from every cup tournament, and they currently sit eighth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s Anfield matchup with league leaders Arsenal.
The Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22, as well as reaching the Champions League final and finishing just a point behind Premier League winners Manchester City.
With 10 matches left this term, Liverpool’s points total of 43 is less than half what they amassed in 2021-22, and Klopp accepts it is unacceptable.
“I’m sorry for our people, that they don’t have the season they wished for. But in the long term they will forget that,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I couldn’t care less what we did last year or the years before. I’m 100 per cent responsible for this rubbish and it’s really not cool.”
The German coach recently admitted hisgenerally impeccable record with the club was probably the reason his job has not come into question, and shared his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans.
“I know everybody can express their emotions in an instant and there will be a lot of negative comments about us â I understand that,” he said. “But the people in the stadium are incredible.
“You see things happening at other clubs, not only sackings but teams against owners, fans against owners, fans against the team â I’ve seen it all.
“But if anyone can get through a situation like this in a classy manner, I really think it’s us as a club.”
5 â Liverpool have lost five of their 10 Premier League matches in 2023, already more defeats than in the whole of 2022 (P35 W24 D7 L4). Downturn. pic.twitter.com/NFtFOnBZtU
“What you’ve seen this year is that a lot of teams that performed last year on an extremely high level are not exactly there,” Klopp added. “Even City. Of course they play sensational football, but they don’t have the same points tally as last year [64, compared to 69 at the same stage in 2021-22].
“The intensity, at one point, gets you and maybe it caught us this year. But that is no excuse for the next 10 games.
“It may be an explanation for why we are not on our top level. We didn’t find a way to bring in consistent performances.”
Sitting 13 points behind Newcastle United and Manchester United in third and fourth place respectively, it will take a significant turnaround for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League, even if they have a game in hand.
Klopp believes a “lack of confidence” has played a part, as well as injuries, but his team’s potential has still been visible with a 9-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season, and a 7-0 thrashing of rivals United in their last home game.
Their shortcomings were on show again just six days later though, stumbling to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.
“World-classplayers are performing on a strange level,” he said. “It started with injuries and players coming back early, and we were never really settled in this season.
“We have to go through that and I have no problem with that. When I look back in 10 or 15 years this season will probably not be involved with highlights, but hopefully there’ll be a lot of things we can learn from it and can use next year.
“But we have to fight through this and this is tough. If it was easy they wouldn’t pay me that much money for it.
“We’ve had a super-strange season. We’ve had the two highest wins in our history but then a week later we cannot do it.”
After a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa, which dropped Chelsea to 11th place in the Premier League, Potter was fired less than seven months into his job at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues’ next match is at home against Liverpool, who are still licking their wounds from Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Manchester City.
According to their high standards, Liverpool is having a terrible season. The Reds have lost nine league games, are currently in eighth place, are eliminated from the FA Cup and the Champions League, and are eight points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
And Klopp is aware it is the success of previous campaigns that is keeping him in a job.
“The elephant in the room is why I’m still sitting here, in this crazy world. Last man standing,” Klopp told reporters.
“I’m aware of the fact that I’m sitting here because of the past, not because of what we did this season.
“If it was my first season, that would be slightly different. Yes, we have smart owners, they know about the situation, but you better ask them yourselves.”
-7.4 – Chelsea underperformed their xG by 7.4 during Graham Potter's Premier League reign, the worst differential of any side since his first game in charge (21 goals from 28.4 xG).
-7.4 | Chelsea -6.7 | West Ham -6.1 | Everton -5.8 | Southampton -5.3 | Forest
“There’s no need to be afraid, I’m here to deliver. I’m not here as a talisman or whatever, or for murals on walls. I’m here to deliver, nothing else in my mind. But I know I’m here because of the last few years.
“I don’t like the fact that I have to pretty much rely on that. Is it right or not? We will see in the future. I am fully in, there’s no doubt, but we have to sort it.
“We cannot just continue playing like we do from time to time. Not always, thank God, but from time to time â it’s really not allowed. I’m really disappointed by us, that we do these kind of things, but they happen. We have to find a way out, that’s what we’re working on.”
Potter’s dismissal followed on from Brendan Rodgers losing his job at Leicester City, with the Foxes in 19th place.
The pair of departures came a week on from Tottenham cutting ties with Antonio Conte.
“I think both clubs [Chelsea and Leicester] are not where they expect to be,” Klopp said. “I cannot say a lot more about it. I respect them a lot. I like them both. When I met them, really good people, fantastic managers, both of them, but still, things can go the wrong way.
“When decision-makers at a club think they have to change, then they change. I think we all accept that’s part of the business.
“That’s it, a strange week. Conte was the last week, [Julian] Nagelsmann [sacked by Bayern Munich], and now these two.
The season gets into a decisive part and people are afraid of maybe not reaching their targets.
“You would have to ask the decisive people what they will say about it. For all four I mentioned, the managing future is still bright. It’s not a disaster.”
Klopp was unsure how much Potter’s dismissalwould impact Chelsea, noting he expects the Blues to set up in a similar system.
One thing he was sure about was the reaction that is required from Liverpool.
“As badly [needed] as possible,” Klopp said, before calling the defeat to City a “super strange game”.
“It’s unacceptable, but it happened anyway. Now we have to make sure we are ready, that’s it,” he added.
Since Jurgen Klopp took over the club’s management in 2015, Liverpool has advanced to three UEFA Champions League finals, lost two, and won the 2019 edition. Real Madrid, the 14-time champion, has been Klopp’s worst nightmare in this competition, having twice denied the German in the final in 2018 and 2022.
Liverpool has also been eliminated from this year’s competition by Los Blancos.
Last season, the club was managed by a former Borussia Dortmund manager, who guided them to the final of every competition they took part in, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup while losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
However, days before the night in Paris, Klopp was caught up in a bar mood with former Reds captain Steven Gerrard who was still Aston Villa manager at that time, as reported by Sun UK.
Klopp met Gerrard at bar
Gerrard and Klopp met at a bar in Merseyside while the manager was walking his dog and decided to stay and spend some time with the former Rangers boss. âHe was walking the dog, I was sitting outside with one of my friends having a couple of pints.
I shouted over to wish him good luck, because he had a Champions League final days later. I thought heâd be in the zone,â he told The Anfield Wrap. âHe said to me: âNo, no, no. Go to the bar and get me a pint.â So we got him a pint.
He ended up having two or three, he had a couple of smokes, his dog waited patiently, and we had a good craic for probably over an hour about football, about life in Liverpool, his plans for the future.â
Klopp could be friendly and could also get angry.He blasted a pitch invader who nearly injured left- back Andy Robertson during Liverpool’s 7-0 rout of Manchester United, as reported earlier.
The fan evaded security and collided with the Scottish defender, who sat down a few seconds with what looked like he had been injured but could carry on.
Sadio Mane was a member of Liverpool’s fearsome attacking trio, which also included Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino and Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, which won every trophy under Jurgen Klopp. At the conclusion of the previous season, the Senegalese international announced his departure from Anfield and asked to be transferred; his request was granted. He joined Bayern Munich, the winning German team.
Due to a leg injury he sustained a few days prior to the tournament, the former Southampton forward missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He made his comeback from the bench against Union Berlin at the weekend.
Mane confident in Klopp’s abilities
Liverpool are having a shaky season riddled with injuries and inconsistencies in performance and results, but the former Reds is confident in Jurgen Klopp to turn it around.
”Liverpool will be back. I’m convinced they will overcome this situation. They had many injuries and tough tests, but Jurgen Klopp is definitely the right man. He will lead Liverpool back up, from this season – the players love him,” he told German newspaper Bild.
The AFCON winner’s confidence is showing early signs of being right. After the 2-0 win over Wolves last night, Liverpool are six points behind Tottenham, who have played a game more in fourth.
As reported by Mirror UK, Mane scored 120 goals in 269 appearances for Klopp before he left for Germany. He won all possible trophies, including the UEFA Champions League and Liverpool’s first Premier League title in 30 years.
Klopp admits Liverpool miss Mane
It was earlier reported that Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool misses Mane, as the Senegalese’s departure has opened a void in the team’s front three. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino formed a devastating front three, but with Mane’s departure and Firmino’s inconsistencies due to injury, the Egyptian is the only regular left among the three.
In light of his team’s struggles this year, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp asserts that “it is clear we have to do something in the summer.”
Tuesday’s first leg of theirChampions League match in the round of 16 saw Real Madrid defeat the Reds 5-2.
Despite having games in hand on some of their rivals, Liverpool is eighth in the Premier League despite having an erratic season.
“We know we have to improve and change things, and we will,” said Klopp.
“We cannot do it now but it’s already clear that we have to do something in the summer. For now, we just have to go through this and fight back.”
Liverpool midfielders James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be out of contract in the summer along with forward Roberto Firmino.
A number of players have also been struggling for form this season, with Klopp’s side seven points off a top-four spot in the Premier League heading into a game at Crystal Palace (19:45 GMT) on Saturday.
‘A few people are speeding up a little bit and you can’t ignore that’
Liverpool have played in the Champions League for the past five seasons, during which time they won it in 2018-19, while losing to Real Madrid in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 finals.
“It’s not helpful [if we don’t get in the Champions League],” said Klopp.
“We have to start doing work earlier before we know where we will end up position wise and European competition wise. These things are clear.
“We played five years in a row in the Champions League and went through to the final three times, which is massive from a money point of view.
“We built a stand and training ground – the club is in a really good place – but around us a few people are speeding up a little bit and you can’t ignore that. You cannot ignore these kinds of things.
“It’s still about finding in the right players. It’s not about bringing a lot, it’s about right [players].”
Injuries have also had an impact for the Reds during the current campaign but their exploits are in stark contrast to last season when they played every game possible, making 63 outings in pursuit of the quadruple.
They won the FA Cup and League Cup – competitions they exited at the fourth-round stage this season – but missed out on winning the Champions League and Premier League.
And, while Klopp said “this team has a wonderful history”, he added “one of the main reasons” he signed new contract until 2026 was because he knew there would be a period of transition.
“The way that this club is led is by not splashing the money. Our transfers always have to be on point. That makes it really tricky,” he said.
“We cannot make four transfers before we know who will leave the club and these kind of things.
“Last year was not a season for a big change. We played until the last moment and, if you want to change at this club, we cannot just bring in players and realise later that no-one wants to leave. It doesn’t work like that.
“It’s not possible to start it early because we have final after final, played the season until the last minute, played the Champions League final, then we had a short break, then a lot of injuries, and then the World Cup.”
Klopp’s comments follow Liverpool owner John Henry’s statement that he is not selling the Merseyside club.
“We have to make our own plans, and that’s what we do, but based on the way this club is led,” said Klopp.
“It’s obviously different to other clubs, that’s how it is. It worked out so far and we have to see if it will work still or if we have to adapt.
“That’s something for us in the offices when we are not on the training pitch and for my conversations with the owners and all these kinds of things.”
Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 match between Liverpool and Real Madrid will be the latest encounter between Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti.
Their individual histories could have been very dissimilar.
In October 2015, after Everton and Liverpool drew 1-1 at Goodison Park, Thierry Henry reached across and put his hand on a perplexed Jamie Carragher’s knee in the Sky Sports studio as it was announced that Brendan Rodgers had been fired as the manager of the Reds.
In a matter of minutes, the front-runner Klopp was being discussed as the candidate most likely to take the club back to the pinnacle of European and English football.
The second favourite had been Ancelotti, out of work at the time following his exit from his first spell at Madrid, and Carragher argued that while the Italian had the more impressive CV, Klopp was the more suitable choice for the Anfield hotseat after his success at Borussia Dortmund.
“I think with either of those coming to Liverpool, the supporters would be ecstatic,” he said at the time. “If it were me, I would go for Klopp ahead of Ancelotti.” I think he’s got more to prove. Ancelotti is a great manager, of course, but he’s gone to clubs where you would expect to win trophies.
“Getting Liverpool back into the top four is now a difficult task.” Forget talking about the title. And I think it needs someone with that energy and drive to get Liverpool back to where it wants to be, and I think Jurgen Klopp’s that man.”
Of course, Carragher proved to be right about Klopp.
It will never be known what would have happened had Ancelotti been hired instead, but he has gone on to enjoy success at other clubs since, with spells at Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton before heading back to the Santiago Bernabeu in December 2021.
The two have faced off numerous times in opposing dugouts, with the upcoming two-legged Champions League tie set to be their 12th and 13th meetings.
It is interesting how frequently Klopp and Ancelotti have come up against one another, especially considering the Italian’s 18-month spell at Everton was the only time they have managed in the same league.
They clashed on four occasions in Merseyside derbies â coincidentally after that had been the fixture that led to their names being linked with the Liverpool job back in 2015 â with two draws at Goodison Park in the Premier League and a 1-0 Liverpool win in an FA Cup third round game at Anfield.
The most notable encounter also came at Anfield in February 2021, with no fans in due to COVID-19 restrictions, where Ancelotti masterminded Everton’s first win at the home of their neighbours since the turn of the century.
Their other seven meetings have come in the Champions League, Klopp coming up against Ancelotti for the first time during his penultimate season at Borussia Dortmund as they took on Madrid in the last eight, losing 3-0 in the Spanish capital before a spirited but unsuccessful 2-0 reverse back in Dortmund.
Two goals from Marco Reus in the first half had given the German side hope of a comeback, but Ancelotti’s men put up the defences and managed to see the game out, a tactic that the Los Blancos head coach has used to good effect against Klopp on numerous occasions since.
He also frustrated Klopp in their first meeting as Liverpool and Napoli bosses respectively, with the Serie A side winning 1-0 at home in the 2018-19 group stage, restricting the Reds to just four shots â none on which were on target â as Lorenzo Insigne struck a late winner.
A Mohamed Salah goal in the reverse fixture was enough to send Liverpool through to the knockout stage with a 1-0 win at Anfield at Napoli’s expense, with the Reds going on to lift the trophy in Madrid that season.
The two teams were drawn together again in the group stage the following year, with Napoli again defeating Liverpool in Naples, 2-0 this time, while they played out a 1-1 draw back on Merseyside.
Klopp and Ancelotti would not meet again in the Champions League until after their brief Merseyside derby rivalry, somewhat appropriately in the final as Liverpool faced Madrid in Paris last season.
While the game was heavily distracted by the chaos outside prior to kick-off that an independent investigation has since claimed was the fault of UEFA and the French authorities, on the pitch it had a feel of Klopp’s previous struggles with Ancelotti.
Liverpool dominated large parts of the contest, but Madrid were largely able to contain them, though goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois still had to put in an outstanding performance to keep a clean sheet.
Ancelotti suggested after the 1-0 win thanks to a Vinicius Junior goal that Klopp’s team were “more decipherable” than others he had faced, but ahead of their next clash, the German coach lavished praise on his opposite number.
“Carlo is the most relaxed manager I ever met in my life,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference. “One of the best people you can meet, fantastic person, a humble person, super smart and nice, and obviously his man management is at a completely different level to all of us, and I respect that a lot and admire it a lot.”
Ancelotti reciprocated at his press conference, saying: “I have a good relationship with Klopp. We stayed for a year and a half in Liverpool during the pandemic, and we used to text each other and exchange gifts. He’s a really lovely person.”
There is clear mutual respect there, strengthened by the duo’s personal achievements as well as how difficult they both find games against one another.
Klopp’s teams have only managed to find the net seven times against Ancelotti’s in 11 games, despite having 153 shots, suggesting the former Milan, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss knows how to restrict them to low-quality chances.
Ancelotti has relied on his team’s defensive solidity more often than not, and boasts the superior record with five wins to three defeats and three draws, but he has never been able to beat a Klopp team in an away game when fans have been in attendance, with a noisy Anfield on Tuesday a near certainty.
He surely takes slightly more pleasure in besting Liverpool than he does most other foes following one of his most painful defeats as a coach when his Milan side was beaten on penalties in the iconic 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul, despite leading 3-0 at half-time.
This season’s final will also be in the Turkish capital, but at least one of Liverpool or Ancelotti will not be there this time.
Klopp v Ancelotti. Germany v Italy. Beard v eyebrow. It is one of the great modern coaching rivalries, and round 12 should be another fascinating contest.
