Jurgen Klopp’s future at Liverpool has been questioned recently after his side lost their sixth straight Premier League game at Anfield.
The German arrived on Merseyside in October 2015 and has already become a Liverpool legend having won the Champions League, Premier League, FIFA World Club Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
His high-energy attacking style of play has earned him plaudits from around the football world and he is rightly recognised as one of Europe’s top managers.
However, with his club struggling for form in the Premier League and looking set to record the worst ever defence of a Premier League title, now feels the perfect time to look back at “The Normal Ones” most impressive victories as Liverpool manager.
There have been plenty of memorable performances and thrilling games during his five-and-a-half years at the club, but we’ve narrowed them down and selected the top five
Liverpool 3-0 Middlesbrough – Premier League
Victory against relegated ‘Boro on the final day of the 2016/17 season saw Liverpool finish in the final Champions League spot and qualify for Europe’s premier competition in Klopp’s first full season at the helm.
Champions League qualification was imperative if Klopp was to attract world class players to Anfield that summer.
The signing of Mohamed Salah from Roma has proved instrumental to the success of Klopp’s side in the last few years.
Goals from Georginio Wijnaldum, Phillipe Coutinho and Adam Lallana ensured Liverpool beat Arsenal to fourth spot.
This game was the catalyst for an impressive run in the Champions League which would see the Reds reach two consecutive finals, winning one of them.
Liverpool 4-3 Borussia Dortmund – UEFA Europa League quarter-final
WHAT A GAME! It may have only been a Europa League quarter final, but it certainly felt bigger.
Liverpool headed into the second leg tie at Anfield against Klopp’s former side with the aggregate score at 1-1.
Despite Emre Can’s strike in the 57th minute, early goals from Henrikh Mkitaryan and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and later a Marco Reus strike appeared to end the game as a contest.
That was until goals from Divock Origi, Mamadou Sakho and a last minute Dejan Lovren header sent The Kop into ecstasy and created yet another memorable night under the Anfield lights.
Liverpool then went on to beat Spanish side Villareal 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, only to be defeated by Sevilla in the final in Basel.
Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United – Premier League
This was the game that many Liverpool fans started to believe.
“We’re gonna to win the league” rang around Anfield as a Virgil Van Dijk header and an injury-time Salah strike gave Liverpool all three points and extended their lead at the top of the table to 16 points with a game in hand on their nearest rivals Manchester City.
It felt like the league was won that night. With 16 games still remaining, Liverpool were unbeaten in the league and Klopp’s team felt invincible.
After the game Klopp said ‘the energy was incredible’.
He had built a team full of quality, hardwork and belief; characteristics that meant his side would end the club’s 30-year-long wait for the top flight title that season.
They didn’t just win the league, they absolutely walked it and ended the season on a club record 99 points, a whopping 17 points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s City.
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona – UEFA Champions League semi-final
“Corner taken quickly, Origiiiiiiii”.
A night that many call the greatest ever at Anfield.
Only those old enough to remember the 1977 European Cup tie against St. Etienne may argue against that claim.
Needing to keep a clean sheet and score three goals in the process just to take the tie to extra-time was the task for Liverpool who were missing Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah through injury.
A second-half brace from Gini Wijnaldum after an early Origi goal had the tie level on aggregate leaving Lionel Messi and co. shook.
Then came the ingenuity and quick-thinking of Trent Alexander-Arnold to take a quick corner whilst the Barca defenders had their backs to the ball.
He found Origi who slammed his second of the night and Liverpool’s fourth into the top corner to set up an all-English final against Spurs in Madrid.
Liverpool 2-0 Spurs – UEFA Champions League final
It certainly wasn’t the most entertaining game, but who cares?
Klopp ended his cup final hoodoo that had seen him lose his last six finals, including the 2017/18 Champions League final against Real Madrid.
A controversial Salah penalty in the first minute of the game and a sublime late strike from substitute Origi sent the 25,000 or so Kopites in the Wanda Metrapolitano into raptures and Klopp finally had his hand on European football’s most prestigious trophy at the third attempt.
Klopp quashed all rumours of him leaving Liverpool to take the German National job this week when he said: “I have three years left at Liverpool, that’s a simple statement, a simple situation.”
No matter what happens, Klopp has brought the glory days back to Liverpool and will forever be a Liverpool legend.
