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There was a factoid knocking around last week that underlined the impact Jurgen Klopp has made on Liverpool since arriving last year.

No team has seen more goals in their games – both for and against – than the Reds during the time the German has been in charge, underlining his commitment to attacking football.

This is true.

However, the raft of recent reflections on Klopp’s first 12 months at Anfield all assume such an approach fits the ideals of a club with a fanbase that requires a manager who wears his heart on his sleeve.

This, though, is not true. On both counts.

Bill Shankly set the template for the modern Liverpool boss. He was quick to realise the power of the supporters and their sense of identity with the club, and knew his team was the representation of that bond.

He gave them first hope, then belief, and then silverware. Players, manager and fans worked as one.

But he was a one-off. Consider what followed – Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan were no tubthumpers but their teams spoke for the fans by rewarding them with trophies, their understated approach later replicated by another bootroom graduate, Roy Evans, to less spectacular effect.

Nobody was more dour than Kenny Dalglish, yet his affection from supporters grew greater when swapping the pitch for the dugout due to his achievements and helping guide the club through the most difficult period in its history.

Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez were both cherished for the most part by the Anfield faithful not for their touchline passion, but because they offered a sense of progress with tangible reward.

What they all did, though, was stick up for the club and, by association, the fans.

Klopp’s emotive bounding around the technical area may rouse supporters, but the reason they have bought into him is because they can sense Liverpool are becoming truly competitive again under a manager who acknowledges nothing can be achieved without the backing of those who hand over their hard-earned at the turnstiles.

Klopp won’t like this article. While respectful of what has gone before, he quite rightly believes too much emphasis is placed on Liverpool’s past.

But if more people looked at what had gone before they’ll understand better what the German is attempting to achieve.

There have been occasions when Liverpool have thrilled the nation with their free-flowing approach – the 1987-88 team springs to mind – but the reason they were so successful during the 70s and 80s was because they had the players who knew what needed to be done to win.

And here’s the rub. Liverpool have never been about attacking football, defensive football, counter-attacking football or percentage football.

They’ve been about winning football.

And if Klopp believes that’s only possible from a full-throttle, forward-thinking side backed by a frenzied support, then that’s what the Reds need right now – and not what history determines as the mythical ‘Liverpool Way’.

Forget the debate - the FA Cup will always be better than the League Cup

There was healthy debate in ECHO towers this week in light of a record-breaking week in the League Cup.

With attendances at an all-time high for the fourth round, there are those who believe the competition has now surpassed the FA Cup in terms of interest.

The argument is based on the fact the tournament has no replays, is played in midweek under the lights, is done and dusted by early March and provides a first glimpse of potential future stars.

All of this is true. However, it overlooks one major flaw.

It’s the League Cup. Or rather, the EFL Cup or whoever is sponsoring it this week.

The FA Cup is the FA Cup. And try as they might – quarter-finals now in a midweek, no replays after the last 16, semi-finals played at Wembley – the authorities can’t destroy the fact lifting the trophy will forever be more satisfying than England’s secondary domestic knockout pot.

England could miss Anfield showpiece

It was both a good and bad few days for rugby league in England.

First the country was named as host of the 2021 World Cup after making such a success of holding the competition three years ago.

Then yesterday came the smack in the teeth of another narrow defeat to New Zealand.

The last one cost them an appearance in the World Cup final in 2013.

The latest loss, however, has left them with an almighty task to reach the Four Nations final next month.

A showpiece, of course, which will be held at the redeveloped Anfield.

Mind you, what is more typically English than failing to turn up for your own party?