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Liverpool FC have identified Jurgen Klopp as their preferred candidate to become their next manager. It is something, given his work at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, which comes as little surprise.

Not least to the German coach himself. He has spoken a bit about Liverpool in the past, hailing them as a great club.

He has also recently spent a little bit of time on his self-imposed sabbatical from the game talking about his eventual return.

When he hasn't spoken, then his agent, Marc Kosicke, has.

And a couple of players, too.

Here's what's been said about Klopp, Liverpool and the Premier League.

Klopp: August 2006

A little known fact, perhaps, but Klopp faced Liverpool nearly a decade ago - and beat them 5-0.

Then manager of Mainz, he watched over a big pre-season win against Rafa Benitez's side.

Afterwards, he said: "Liverpool were only as strong as we allowed them to be. We were the wrong opponent for them.

"But it's no fun to play against teams with this kind of defence. Hyypia and Carragher are huge."

Klopp: August 2014

But Klopp did actually speak about Liverpool in August 2014 after watching his Dortmund side lose 4-0 at Anfield.

He said: "It’s a great club and they did well last year [2013-14].

"I saw it. I saw what they can do against us...it was the wrong time to play them."

When asked about Rodgers and whether he had followed the blueprint of Dortmund: “I don’t know him good enough as a person.

"With the way he has developed the team? Yes, a little bit. He’s a good manager.”

He also spoke of the Suarez situation after Liverpool sold the striker that summer.

Klopp added: “They have a plan maybe, but I don’t know.

“We did what we did. When we started we tried to create football moments that will hopefully be more successful than the past.

“We didn’t think about what happened in the past, just how we can develop the team.

"That’s what we do all the time.”

Klopp: September 2015

In early September, this is what Klopp had to say speaking at the International Radio Exhibition (IFA) in Berlin, as quoted by Bild.

Klopp said: "I’m really very relaxed – but only because I know that it goes some time. I’ll be back to train a team.

"I inform, read, meet a lot of people – there are ordinary little things that make great fun. I miss currently nothing.

"It doesn't have to be an absolute top club. There are other good projects that are exciting, [teams] who need help.

"I don't know where I'll be heading to, but right now, that's not important for me.

"I know that if I will have the right feeling it will be a wonderful next chapter.

"You will see what happens and I find it exciting right now not knowing what will happen next."

IN PICS: Jurgen Klopp

Klopp's agent: June 2015

These words somewhat echoed those of his agent in June, who said Klopp would be open to managing in the Premier League.

Speaking to SPOX, Kosicke said: “The Premier League is very exciting, And we do not only think about the top four because there are some other great clubs below them. But I am not sure the profile of the job could work.

“In Germany there is a clear separation between manager and sporting director and I think in principle this is very good. Jurgen does not like to speak to players’ agents or to carry out a transfer. So we have to see which is the most useful arrangement.”

“It is always all about the challenge.

“When Jurgen signed for Dortmund there were other clubs who had better prestige and were in better financial mood at this time. Nevertheless he decided for Dortmund.

“He has the great ability to develop things. If he goes into a stadium, feels the energy and thinks that he can make a difference here, this could be more attractive to him than going with the big deals and aim for the treble.”

Didi Hamann: September 2015

Even former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann has spoken about Klopp to Anfield as recently as last month, saying he would be a great fit on Merseyside.

Hamann said: "The pressure in Liverpool gets bigger. The fans are on the barricades. But the coach is backed by the club, and anyway the question is: Would Klopp move there during the season?"

"Had they asked before the season, I am 99 percent sure that he would have joined them. Many people say that he will take over Bayern on July 1, 2016, but I don't know whether he's a fit there. He'd be a great fit at Liverpool."

Nuri Sahin: October 2012

Interestingly - and rather amusingly - Nuri Sahin heralded Rodgers as Liverpool's very own Klopp nearly three years ago.

Sahin joined the Reds on loan from Real Madrid having shot to stardom in Klopp's Dortmund side - but his time at Anfield was uninspiring.

Sahin said: "It will take time to take Liverpool back to where it wants to be.

"When Klopp came, we did not have a squad to be champions. He changed a lot, bringing his own philosophy in. It took a while for everybody to follow it.

"He had to be calm and consistent. If you go on this way, in the first two or three weeks, OK, you might not get the results, but in the long term it will go your way if you don't change it.

"The club gave Klopp the time to do this and it worked out very well.

"As a character, he is a person who relates to the player. I can see Brendan doing the same.

"Brendan's character was very influential in me coming here."