On Oct 8,2015, Juergen Klopp walked into Anfield for the first time as Liverpool boss. To the gathered press, he described himself as “the normal one” but what he has achieved since has turned out to be rather special.



Three days later, I ran my first (and probably last) full marathon, requiring rather longer to complete the course than Eliud Kipchoge did in his anything-but-normal effort at the weekend. There was still stiffness in my legs when I watched Liverpool draw 0-0 with Tottenham in Klopp’s first game in charge on Oct 17.

The German’s concern ahead of the game was focused on the stiffness in the side that he had inherited from Brendan Rodgers.

Reflecting on games he’d seen from earlier in the season, Klopp concluded: “You saw many of the problems because there was so much pressure on the players. We have to work so that they feel good – nobody is really enjoying themselves.”

Anfield is a much more fun place to be now. The manager has put smiles on the faces of his players, and more importantly, confidence in their minds. There will always be pressure in playing for a club with the size and history of Liverpool. Today, the players seem inspired rather than burdened by the expectations that come with it.

Every time the Liverpool team take to the pitch at home, they are reminded by the famous sign, “This is Anfield”. Upon his appointment as manager, Klopp banned them from touching it until they won something. “A sign of respect” he called it and he’s a man in touch with the club’s traditions.

The ban was lifted with Liverpool’s Champions League triumph over Spurs in June. The respect remains.

The scale of the transformation that Klopp has delivered is most evident in comparing the starting line-ups between his opening match at White Hart Lane and the one he sent out in Madrid to become champions of Europe.

The manager’s first-ever team selection for Liverpool was: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno, Lucas Leiva, Emre Can, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, and Divock Origi.

That side started the day 10th in the league, having accumulated just 12 points from eight games. Initial progress was solid rather than spectacular though, with Liverpool only improving enough to finish eighth at the end of Klopp’s debut season in charge.

Leicester were champions – a feat probably still more sensational and dramatic than Kipchoge running a sub-two hour marathon.

By the time Liverpool got to Madrid in 2019 and their second successive Champions League final, just about everything had changed. The team Klopp sent out that night was: Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

That team would beat the 2015 team by a comfortable margin, probably three or four nil. Klopp has spent astutely to add quality and depth to his squad, finding the right players for key positions such as goalkeeper and centreback.

The signings of Salah and Mane represent some of the best business done by a Premier League club in years. Just think what they are each worth now.

But it is Klopp’s worth that has risen the most over the past four years. He is the beating heart of Liverpool’s revival; chasing success as relentlessly as his players press the opposition to win back possession.

The Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint. Liverpool have set a blistering pace at the start of this season to take a commanding lead. If they can sustain it, they will be champions. And Klopp’s transformation of the club will be complete.



Craig Wilkie. Football Writer. Football Coach. Football Fan. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Star