“We must turn from doubters to believers”. This was Jurgen Klopp’s over-riding message on his first day as Liverpool manager. This was back on 8th October 2015, almost five years ago. Well he certainly has done that. Liverpool are currently Champions of Europe, Champions of the World and most crucially for the club, Premier League Champions.
The League Championship has eluded this great club for over 30 years. Liverpool last won their 18th league title in 1990. Nobody would have believed at the time it would have taken them till 2020 to with their 19th league title.
What has happened since Liverpool last won the league?
During this time, arch-rivals Manchester United have won the league 13 times, surpassing Liverpool’s record, making them the most successful English club with 20 league championships. Sir Alex Ferguson famously said, “My greatest challenge is not what’s happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f****g perch. And you can print that.”
Some other things of note:
- Current Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was born, six weeks after Liverpool last hoisted the league championship at Anfield.
- The Berlin wall came down in 1991.
- The Premier League was formed in 1992.
- Seven other clubs won the league title. Including Leicester!
- Donald Trump went from being bankrupt in 1991 to becoming President of the United States.
- The Internet became, er quite big.
- Liverpool have had nine different managers, 239 players and spent £1.47 billion on players during this period.
- F.R.I.E.N.D.S launched in 1994, won countless awards, became a worldwide phenomenon, then stopped ten years later.
- The average house price in the UK increased from £58,982 to £230,776.
- Croatia was born in 1991, and reached a World Cup Final.
- A 23 years old Jurgen Klopp began his Bundesliga career with Mainz. He would play for Mainz for 11 years and manage them for seven years, before managing Borussia Dortmund for another seven years.
Turning Doubters into Believers
“We have to change from doubters to believers. Now,” These were his striking words during his first interview as the club’s new manager. He was acutely aware of the importance of the league championship on Merseyside. When he joined the club in 2015, 25 years had gone by since they last won a league title. It was the club’s monkey on their back, and another championship felt as elusive as the unicorn.
Klopp stated his aim was to get Liverpool to the top of the table in five years and to win a trophy in three years. Even before he managed his first game, he had won over the hearts of the red side of Merseyside.
It was a major coup by owners John Henry and Tom Werner acquiring Klopp. He was a wanted man across Europe and had been interviewed by Manchester United and Real Madrid. It transpired Klopp didn’t like how these clubs focused solely on commercial influences. It is reported he was attracted to Liverpool because of the balance between money needed to reach the top, and also the history and identity of the club and fans. Klopp’s wife, Ulla Sandrock persuaded Klopp to choose Liverpool too.
The larger than life man from the Black Forest was held in higher esteem than the Liverpool players at the time. Klopp had taken over Borussia Dortmund when they were mid-table and financially insecure. Despite this, he led the club to two Bundesliga titles. His ingenious tactics of high, concentrated pressing all over the pitch had not only turned Dortmund into winners, but had gained admirers all over the world. Klopp’s ‘Gengerpressing’ would become famous with Liverpool over the next five years.
10 games which shaped Klopp’s reign
Liverpool 2 West Brom 2 – 13 December 2015
This was the game which got the fans onboard and was the first sign that a bond was developing between Klopp and Liverpool fans. Klopp led his team to the Kop end to salute the club’s most vocal and passionate fans.
Liverpool 4 Borussia Dortmund 3 (5-4 on aggregate) – 14 April 2016
Losing 4-2 on aggregate, Liverpool scored 3 goals in the last 24 minutes to knock Klopp’s former club out of the Europa League quarter-finals. This was a clear sign of intent.
Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 0 – 21 May 2017
The game that ensured Liverpool qualified for the following season’s Champions League. This formed a solid base for years to come.
Watford 3 Liverpool 3 – 12 August 2017
This was the first game the formidable attacking trio of Salah, Mane and Firmino all scored in the same game. They would go on to become the most feared attack in world football for years to come.
Liverpool 2 Everton 1 – 5 January 2018
Virgil van Dijk plays his first game for Liverpool, and scores. He signed for a record £75 million fee for a defender and has helped transform Liverpool’s defence since.
Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1 – 26 May 2018
Karius’s nightmare prompts the transfer of Roma’s goalkeeper, Alisson Becker for a world-record goalkeeper fee of £66.8 million. Alisson has been a rock and won the Golden Glove in his first season. He is favourite to win it again this season, despite being injured for a large part of the campaign.
Liverpool 2 Fulham 0 – 11 November 2018
A full-back dynasty was born. Left-back Andy Robertson and scouser Trent Alexander-Arnold both set up a goal each for the first time. This would be a common occurrence during the title-winning season.
Liverpool 4 Barcelona 0 (4-3 on aggregate) – 7 May 2019
This was arguably football’s greatest ever comeback. Liverpool looked certain to be knocked out of the semi-finals having lost 3-0 in the first leg. The second leg produced one of Anfield’s greatest ever nights and booked a place in the Champions League Final.
Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0 – 1 June 2019
Liverpool win their sixth European Cup on a hot and humid night in Madrid. It would be Klopp’s first of four trophies in less than a year.
Liverpool 3 Manchester City 1 – 10 November 2019
Having missed out on the league title the previous season by one point to City, this would prove to be a significant game. A win for City would have reduced the gap at the top to 3 points, a win opened up a decisive 9 point lead.
Key Factors that Turned Liverpool into Champions
Gegenpressing Style
Klopp is a firm believer that what happens on the training ground is a key influence on the team’s success. This is where he drilled in the rock ‘n roll brand of football and the ‘Gegenpressing’ style of play he introduced to the Premier League. The high-press transformed a mid-table Liverpool team into the champions of the Premier League. The philosophy involves attacking opponents till the very last minute of a game. Klopp instilled this style of play across the whole club, including youth team level. He ensured all existing players had the philosophy drilled into them, plus all new signings had the right characteristics and attributes to play this way.
Players would need to adapt to this style of play before they gained a regular first-team spot. Players such as Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Naby Keita would be held back until Klopp felt comfortable they could play this way.
Losing the 2018 Champions League Final
The heartbreak of losing the Champions League final in Kiev made the team even hungier for success. It also added the impetus for Liverpool to buy two hugely key players that would be instrumental to their development. Alisson Becker and Virgil Van Dijk proved to be the two missing pieces in defence for Liverpool.
The ‘Holy Trinity’
Since Klopp’s arrival in 2015, Liverpool’s transfer business has been hugely successful and has become the template for efficiency. It is down, in large part to Liverpool’s ‘Holy Trinity’. The close-knit relationship between Klopp, Sporting Director Michael Edwards and owner Mike Gordon has ensured Liverpool’s recruitment has been second to none. Mike Gordon is the most influential owner of the three (the others being Henry and Werner), and will make the most crucial decisions with Klopp and Edwards. This would include new player signings, contract renewals and extensions and internal recruitment.
Gordon will have the final sign off on major projects, such as the successful extension of the Main Stand, the redevelopment of the Training Ground and the upcoming £60m extension of the Anfield Road stand. This will take the Anfield Capacity to over 60,000.
Edwards has his team inside Melwood, Klopp has his team whilst Gordon will empower and discuss key initiatives before sign off. This is the simple, yet solid approach behind the club’s remarkable resurgence.
Klopp’s ability to take his players to the next level
Klopp has managed to improve almost every player that has played for him. You could argue the only player he hasn’t improved is goalkeeper Loris Karrius. Klopp instantly recognised he was the weak link and replaced him following his blunders in the 2018 Champions League Final. He has turned quality players into World-Class status. These include Roberto Firmino, Virgil Van Dijk, Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. The fact half the FIFA Team of the Year in 2019 were from Liverpool is a true testament to this.
Building for the Future
Klopp is a firm believer of promoting youth and looking within first. Liverpool will continue to make the high profile signings but Klopp will only buy if he feels he doesn’t have what he needs within the current set up. The recent developments of Curtis Jones and Neco Williams are a testament to this and could potentially save Liverpool upwards of £50m. The success of Liverpool-born Trent Alexander Arnold is a shining example of how Klopp can turn a raw talent into a World-Class player, and arguably the best right-back in the world currently.
Jurgen Klopp’s natural fit with Liverpool
Ian Ayre was Chief Executive and Jurgen Klopp’s right hand made when Klopp joined in 2015. He says: “Is Jurgen right for Liverpool? The answer is absolutely.”
“Everything is natural. Nothing is made up. He doesn’t do anything for effect. He is naturally engaging. He raises the energy level in a room when he walks in.
“He is big and imposing. He is a hugger. All these things he does because it is natural to him. He doesn’t think ‘I’m going to hug the staff and the players’. He does it because he cares for these people. That is who Jurgen Klopp is. He just fits perfectly.”
What records can Liverpool Break?
With 3 games still to play, Liverpool have already set the following records:
- Biggest lead at the top of the league for 25 points
- Most home wins in a row – 24
- Earliest title win with 7 games to spare
- Fastest to 30 wins achieved after 34 games
- Best start ever with 61 points from 21 matches
They can still break the following records
- Most victories in a season – Man City hold this with 32 wins
- Most home wins in a season – 18 is the current record
- Biggest winning margin – City hold the record with a winning margin of 19 points
When will Liverpool Lift the Premier League Trophy?
Liverpool will finally end the 30 years of hurt and hold aloft the one trophy that has alluded them on Wednesday 22nd July. They will lift the trophy in a special ceremony on the Kop following their home fixture with Chelsea.
“Becoming champions with this club is absolutely incredible. It’s the best thing I can imagine and more than I could have ever dreamed of. It’s unbelievable. Much more than I ever thought would be possible. It is an incredible achievement from my players …and pure joy for me to coach them.” Jurgen Klopp.
The team will be wearing this jersey when they lift the trophy. You can buy signed Liverpool shirts here.
