Liverpool have announced that former manager, Jurgen Klopp will be in attendance when the Reds take on Crystal Palace.

This will be Klopp’s first official appearance as an honorary ambassador, as part of the LFC foundation, where he will be a part of the charities Gala Ball on the 23rd of May, ahead of the game at Anfield.

Klopp’s first time back at Anfield could well be a special moment as his predecessor, Arne Slot, could lead Liverpool to the Premier League title.

Liverpool’s 25-game unbeaten run came to an end on the weekend as the Reds lost 3-2 away at Fulham.

Despite questions of complacency due to the teams recent performances, Liverpool are on their way to achieving something special this season.

Arne Slot and his team could help Liverpool lift their 20th league title which would tie them with Manchester United with the most league titles in England.

Back in August during Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher predicted Liverpool to finish 3rd, while Gary Neville thought Liverpool would miss out on Champions League football.

Slot has certainly blown his expectations out of the water, and it would be a hugely impressive debut season on Merseyside.

Liverpool have only won the Premier League once, since the league change in 1992, and that came under Jurgen Klopp in 2019/20.

 

Klopp came narrowly close to winning the league on two other occasions. However, he went on to win the Champions League, FA Cup, Club World Cup, Super Cup and Carabao Cup twice during his nine-year stay.

Social media has saw many question both Klopp and Slot’s time at Anfield and if Liverpool win the league title this year, does Slot undermined Klopp’s legacy?

Fan Connection

While what Slot is doing this season is truly astounding, it’s been built on the blocks of Klopp’s success at Anfield.

One of the most important moments in Klopp’s tenure is arguably one that other fans didn’t understand and don’t understand to this day.

In December 2015, Liverpool drew 2-2 at home to West Brom when Divock Origi scored an equaliser later into added time.

Much was made of it at the time of Liverpool ‘celebrating’ a draw, however, this was the first time Klopp truly connected with the fans on the pitch.

Before this, many believed in Klopp due to media interviews, and saw the charism that he had.

In this game, Klopp reminded the fans, not only about the power they have to help the team, but the importance they had to him.

By reconnecting the fans with the club, it made the fans believe in the club once again, which provided nights like the incredible 4-3 win against Borussia Dortmund a few months later.

Or even a few years later, when Liverpool came from behind to beat Barcelona 4-0 to reach the Champions League final. All of this stemmed from that night in 2015, which still has an impact to this day.

Many could argue that the immediate success Slot could deliver overshadows Klopp’s long-term impact at the club, but if anything, it may highlight the strength Klopp offered the club.

Building Foundations

One of the most important aspects Klopp was able to achieve was the succession of his role and how easily it was dealt with.

You could highlight Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes’s work to find someone who could slightly replicate Klopp’s tactical approach.

However, the most impressive part has been how Klopp built a squad that has the ability to win a league title under another manager, with only one signing being made in the summer transfer window.

That one signing being Federico Chiesa, who has only played 395 minutes across the entire season so far.

Klopp had some critics over his transfers later into his time at Liverpool, particularly the signing of Darwin Nunez for a club record fee, who hasn’t been able to hit the heights he did at Benfica.

Some have even put the blame on Klopp for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are possibly walking away from the club for nothing this summer.

However, without Klopp’s 2023 summer transfer window, Liverpool are not in the position they currently sit in.

The signings of Alexis Mac Allister. Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo in that one window have all proved to be a success for the club.

Add on top of Klopp’s work and trust in academy players such as Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah in his final season at the club, it has helped shape the team into what is making it successful on the pitch now.

Verdict

The short answer would be no, but to address the question, Klopp’s legacy at Liverpool can’t be undermined yet.

Slot has been able to offer new, fresh ideas to the squad, which it felt like it needed after a lengthy time under Klopp, and so far it has worked well.

Sure, there may be a bitter taste after being knocked out in the Round of 16 in the Champions League, and losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle United, but if Liverpool can get the title wrapped up, many will easily forget the small negatives from this season.

However, you can’t determine Slot’s ‘legacy’ off one season without making any signings that he wants.

Klopp needed time to embed his players into his squad, and we didn’t see the true potential of what could be achieved until 2017-18, his second full season at the club.

Slot, along with Edwards and Hughes, needed time to address what they believe the issues are in the squad, and now with a season in the tank, it’s expected Liverpool will make the moves this summer.

Liverpool fans will be hoping that Slot can potentially overtake Klopp’s legacy at the club, and why wouldn’t they?

The idea of Liverpool winning more trophies under Slot than they did under Klopp is exactly what any Red will be hoping for during the Dutch manager’s tenure.

But it’s too early to make any calls that Slot will eclipse what Klopp has done for the club both on and off the pitch, but time will tell whether Slot can truly match Klopp’s Anfield legacy.

(Featured image under Wikimedia creative commons license)

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