Klopp praised for bringing back Shankly ethos

Jurgen Klopp has brought the Bill Shankly ethos back to Anfield and the German is "a Scouser at heart" says former Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore.

Moore left Liverpool in August after a successful three-and-a-half years in the job which coincided with the club's sixth Champions League triumph and - in July - the end of a 30-year wait for the league title.

None of it would have been possible without Klopp, who has turned Liverpool's fortunes around after replacing Brendan Rodgers as manager in 2015.

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Klopp defends Reds' transfer activity

Manager Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool are a "different club" to some rivals in the transfer window as they are "not owned by countries or oligarchs".

The Premier League champions have only signed Kostas Tsimikas for £11.7m, while Chelsea have spent about £200m.

Klopp says "uncertainty" created by Covid-19 is "less important" for some.

He said the Reds have had success "by being the club we are", adding: "We cannot change that overnight and say 'now we want to behave like Chelsea'."

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Klopp earns manager of the season accolade

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been named the Premier League manager of the season.

The 53-year-old German led the Reds to their first top-flight title for 30 years.

They amassed 99 points, winning 32 of their 38 league games, to finish 18 points clear of Manchester City.

Klopp beat Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, Leicester's Brendan Rodgers and Sheffield United's Chris Wilder to the award.

Last month, he was named League Managers' Association manager of the year.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, 21, won the Premier League's young player award on Friday.

The winners of the Premier League awards were decided after votes from the public were combined with those of a panel of football experts.

With title won, Reds turn attention to transfers for new season

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has suggested the Premier League champions are not planning any major signings this summer.

Klopp has cautioned against the club making big outlays as a result of the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic - despite their Premier League rivals already spending significant money.

Chelsea have made significant moves on the transfer front and Manchester City are close to adding to their squad in the next few days.

So, as Klopp aims to "attack, not defend" their title, does he need to buy in this window? Three former Reds players - defender Gary Gillespie, winger John Barnes and striker Emile Heskey - give their views.

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Liverpool confirmed champions

Jurgen Klopp described guiding Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years as "more than I ever thought possible".

The Reds were confirmed as Premier League champions without kicking a ball on Thursday as Manchester City's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea meant they could no longer be caught.

Liverpool are 23 points clear with seven games remaining.

"I have no words," Klopp told Sky Sports.

"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."

The German, who was wearing a Liverpool shirt during his interview and was visibly emotional, added: "Becoming champions with this club is absolutely incredible.

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Klopp: ‘Football is back!’

Jürgen Klopp has delivered a personal message to Liverpool supporters around the world ahead of the resumption of the Premier League season.

The Reds will restart the 2019-20 top-flight campaign with a Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday evening - the first of nine games still to be played.

With all remaining fixtures this season to take place behind closed doors, Klopp spoke directly to fans and explained how their support from home will be used as motivation during the run-in.

Klopp says Reds will be ready when season restarts

Jürgen Klopp says Liverpool will be mentally and physically ready for the resumption of the Premier League season and football will remain a “wonderful game” even when played at empty stadiums.

Liverpool are, at most, only two wins from claiming their first league title for 30 years and could return to training in small groups on Tuesday providing the Project Restart plan is approved on Monday. The first stage would see players tested for Covid-19 twice a week.

Several Premier League players, however, have voiced concerns over protocols for the next, higher-risk phase of training, and Project Restart rests on gaining their consent.

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Klopp wants Mbappe

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has reportedly reached out to Kylian Mbappe’s father – who is also his agent – to gauge the PSG striker’s interest in moving to Anfield this summer.

The World Cup winner is one of Europe’s biggest talents, topping the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 18 goals and five assists this season while he has also netted five times in the Champions League. 

Mbappe became the second most expensive player ever when he moved from Monaco to Paris two years ago, having initially joined on loan, though he only has two years remaining on his current deal.

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Liverpool heading for summer clear-out

 

Liverpool have looked like champions elect for much of the Premier League season and, barring any coronavirus interference, will be officially awarded a first title in 30 years at some point.

But Jurgen Klopp is still yet to win a domestic trophy and will be keen to reclaim the Champions League.

Excellent recruitment, led by sporting director Michael Edwards, has been the cornerstone of Liverpool's rise in recent times and will no doubt be called upon again.

The Reds opted for continuity over change last summer with no major new faces coming in - it is unlikely that will be the case again come this summer.

This Liverpool side has very few flaws, but the German is very reliant on a cluster of players who tend to start the majority of games.

That has inevitably led to suggestions certain players could quit the Reds in an effort to further their careers elsewhere.

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Klopp: 'We were not like warriors.'

Jürgen Klopp said he felt “the best possible emotion in football” when Sadio Mané struck Liverpool’s late winning goal at Aston Villa, but the Liverpool manager criticised his team for inviting defeat by being “too playful” in the first half.

Liverpool fell behind to a goal by Trézéguet in the 21st minute but staged a late rally to win 2-1, preserving their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

“We made it more difficult at the start, we started playing football but not exactly like we should have – too playful, like kids,” said Klopp, doing a little mime of children frolicking. “Our football looked good but I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the body language in the first half. We were not like warriors. We were like players.'

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Klopp explains new role for Adam Lallana

Jurgen Klopp has explained his decision to give Adam Lallana a new role during pre-season.

Lallana, who has spent the majority of his career as an attacking midfielder, has been switched to play in a deeper role.

The England man has been employed in the Liverpool engine room alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner in the first-half team for the opening friendlies against Tranmere Rovers and Bradford City.

And Klopp believes Lallana's performances suggest he could provide a different option in the fierce competition for places in midfield.

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Klopp: Reds players have gone 'beyond their limits'.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to his players for "going beyond their limits" in order to reach the final of the Champions League.

The Reds are hoping to be crowned European champions for the sixth time in the club's history when they face English rivals Tottenham in Madrid on June 1.

Klopp's side beat Spanish champions Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield in the semi-finals - overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit - to reach the European showpiece for the second time in as many campaigns.

It will be the German's third Champions League final as a manager after leading Dortmund to the showpiece in 2013 before reaching the same stage with the Reds last season.

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Henderson credits Klopp talk for Barcelona comeback

Jordan Henderson has attributed Liverpool’s belief against Barcelona to Jürgen Klopp and the manager’s prediction of a night to tell their grandchildren about, as the captain savoured the greatest moment of his career and proving doubters wrong again.

Henderson will lead Liverpool into a second consecutive Champions League final on 1 June following their incredible comeback from 3-0 down against the Spanish champions. The midfielder was immense in the 4-0 victory at Anfield despite suffering a knee injury that required a pain-killing injection at half-time. He admitted the refusal to concede defeat against Lionel Messi and co, despite being without Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, stemmed from Klopp’s team talk.

Henderson said: “From the talk he gave before the game before we came to the stadium, I think the players could see that the manager believed, which helped us believe in what he said. He said we can enjoy the night and maybe tell the grandkids one day it was a special night.

“The manager has ingrained that belief into us: no matter what happens you keep fighting right until the final whistle goes. That is what we have done all season and we will continue to do that on Sunday and in the final as well. Two big games to look forward to and we just have to keep with that belief and that spirit and then we will be OK.”

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Origi keeps Liverpool title hopes alive

Jürgen Klopp claimed destiny will decide whether Liverpool win the Premier League after Divock Origi’s “fairytale” winner at Newcastle ensured the title race will go to the final day of the season. The Liverpool manager’s euphoria was offset by confirmation Roberto Firmino, and possibly Mohamed Salah, will miss Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona.

Salah was carried off at St James’ Park with a head injury sustained in an accidental collision with the Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The Egypt international, who scored his 22nd league goal of the campaign in the 3-2 win, will be observed for concussion before a decision is taken on his involvement against Barcelona. His replacement, Origi, headed in the 86th-minute goal that gave Liverpool a two-point lead over Manchester City ahead of the final weekend of the season.

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Klopp talks up importance of Porto tie

Jürgen Klopp has said Liverpool are too hungry for success to consider rationing their efforts in the Champions League. With his team hosting Porto on Tuesday in the last eight, Klopp is not entertaining the notion that taking that tournament lightly will help Liverpool stay above Manchester City on the domestic front. Yes, Liverpool crave the Premier League title. But they are greedy.

“We are very ambitious,” said Klopp after his team came from behind to win 3-1 at Southampton on Friday. “We have to recover and then we will make the lineup for Porto. We will try everything. It’s at Anfield, it’s a quarter-final, it’s a big one for us.”

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Joe Gomez returns to training after three-months out

Liverpool and England defender Joe Gomez has returned to training following more than three months out of action after breaking his leg.

Gomez, 21, fractured his lower leg during the Premier League game at Burnley on 5 December.

"It is nice - Joe is not injured any more and nearly fit," said Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.

"Joe was out for 15 weeks. That's long, so he needs to now create the basis again for the rest of the season."

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Scoreless draw leaves Bayern Munich Champions League tie in balance

Jurgen Klopp’s consolation from a generally unsatisfying Anfield stalemate is a positive historic omen.

The last time Bayern Munich earned a goalless draw in this stadium - in this competition - Liverpool not only emerged victorious from the tie, they won the European Cup.

That was 38 years ago. The modern Bayern will know better to take second leg victory for granted in the same way as that which cost the side inspired by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The German champions have waited a long time for their chance to avenge that painful exit and will feel they have the platform. 

Perhaps that is why both sides showed content with the messy draw, the game failing to live up to its billing, neither side willing to take unnecessary risks in pursuit of that critical first strike. We hoped for a reconstruction of the Dortmund v Bayern epics Klopp was accustomed to in his Bundesliga years, or the verve witnessed at Anfield last season. 

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Salah pen sees Reds passed Brighton

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his side are no longer "childish" in controlling matches after Mohamed Salah's penalty edged out Brighton to extend their lead to seven points at the top of the Premier League.

The Reds dominated with more than 70% possession against their cagey hosts but created little in a workmanlike performance until Salah was felled in the area by Pascal Gross.

The Egyptian duly lashed the spot-kick left-footed across his body and into the net for a 17th goal of the season.

Brighton briefly rallied, with Fabinho - at the heart of Liverpool's defence for the injured Dejan Lovren - producing a key block to deny Gross in the area as the home side failed to register a shot on target.

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Klopp reacts to Reds 5-1 victory over Arsenal

It seems Pep Guardiola might be wrong about Liverpool feeling the pressure now they are out in front in the Premier League – all the slip-ups and chokes are currently coming from the teams immediately below them, with the leaders sailing serenely on. 

Jürgen Klopp’s team were almost untouchable here, taking advantage of Tottenham’s unexpected collapse at Wembley to open up an impressive nine-point gap at the top of the table. Klopp insists it is too early to talk about titles and leads, though if his side are still unbeaten after their visit to the Etihad on Thursday it is hard to imagine who or what might derail the most powerful assault on the Premier League Liverpool have ever mounted.

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Klopp never doubted Salah form

Jürgen Klopp says he was “not worried for one second” about Mohamed Salah’s form this season but admits both club and player have to learn to deal with the raised levels of expectation that mean the forward’s record-breaking haul in 2017-18 is the yardstick by which he is judged.

Klopp was speaking after Salah scored a brilliant hat-trick in Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Bournemouth, taking his league tally for the season into double figures as Liverpool racked up a fifth straight top-flight win and supplanted Manchester City at the top of the table.

It was an exhilarating performance from Salah and prompted the question of whether Klopp smiles when he hears people asking if the 26-year-old has been quite the same player this season. The manager said: “Look, your business [the press] is a difficult one as well – you have to judge always the moment. I’m interested in the moment but I never judge it because the moment is just a little part of all what we do. So I was not for one second worried.

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