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“Magnetic” Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool players left a lasting impression at non-league Guisborough Town, who were “proud and privileged” to welcome the Premier League title chasers for a training session ahead of their 3-0 win at Middlesbrough.

Northern League Division One Guisborough have forged a reputation for their excellent facilities at their KGV ground, and played host to a similar visit from Bolton last season.

And the club were were delighted to open their gates to charismatic manager Klopp and his side for a highly-kept secret visit which preceded Liverpool’s thumping win against Boro at the Riverside.

The Reds approached Guisborough several weeks ago to see if they could use their pitch ahead of the Boro game, as they were staying overnight before it at Gisborough Hall.

And the Priorymen’s chairman Don Cowan was only too happy to give the green light to a visit which saw him and his club’s committee and management get to meet and take photographs with Klopp and players like Jordan Henderson.

“They were very pleased with the standard of the facilities we have to offer down at the KGV and had no hesitation in taking up our offer to make use of them,” Cowan said.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t make it a public event as Liverpool wanted complete privacy for what was an important last opportunity for them to train on a decent playing surface before the actual match against Middlesbrough.

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“Everything was spic and span for their visit and they were very pleased with what we provided for them. Our groundsman Andy Barker spent hours cutting and preparing the pitch and it looked superb.

“All the officials and players from Liverpool were really grateful and it was a pleasure and a privilege to host them at the KGV.

“It was a proud day for such a relatively small club like ours to help look after some of the big boys from the Premier League.

“We are very proud that Liverpool came to us like they did and gave us a massive vote of confidence by taking up the opportunity to come to the KGV.

“It’s a real feather in our cap for us as a club.”

Liverpool spent about an hour at Guisborough’s ground and their class on and off the pitch will not be forgotten, Cowan added.

“They were all really grateful to us for our hospitality and came across as a really nice group of people,” he said.

“Their manager Jurgen Klopp was particularly friendly – what a magnetic personality he is. He has an unbelievable presence wherever he is.”