https://medium.com/common-goal/jürgen-klopp-joins-common-goal-ef996a2e7b3
3 Likes
2 Likes
Bump
1 Like
1 Like
He’s flopped terribly since.
Mourinho won more trophies at man united .
Billy John O’Sullivan won more than both in the LDMC Div 4
Billy John is a deep football man
"I don’t know when I last had so much fun at a football game"
I hope they give Ole the time to win 155.
Very flawed stat there. Klopp was fierce lucky in a lot of games and had the officials on his side.
Ole keeps doing the right things I expect this statistic to change quickly.
1 Like
You expect the number of losses Ole has had to decrease? Expecting a legal challenge to some of the results or something?
1 Like
Yes, Ole has it in him.
Klopp is a coaching genius. The 30 year gap has been all but breached.
1 Like
The cost of unused City players yesterday came to a staggering total of £330m. Incredible from Klopp to swat away a behemoth of such financial clout with so much ease.
I’m not a clown,” a beaming Jurgen Klopp told the over-eager cameraman who was urging him to deliver a flurry of his trademark fist pumps in front of the jubilant Kop.
Instead the Liverpool boss applauded his adoring public, raised a clenched fist and repeatedly patted the liver bird on his chest before jogging over to the touchline to embrace Andy Robertson.
The noise was deafening as Anfield paid homage to the genius who is making their dreams come true. The stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone shortly before the final whistle was laced with pride.
This was a statement victory. The magnitude of the outcome was writ large on the faces of players and managers alike.
As Pep Guardiola held his head in his hands, Manchester City’s stars remonstrated with the officials. Forget talk about VAR and any burning sense of injustice. That wasn’t the story here. The real tale is that this was the day when Liverpool deservedly took a giant step closer to the promised land.
Their lead at the top of the table is eight points and they are nine clear of Guardiola’s side. Only Manchester United in 1993-94 have ever had a bigger advantage at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
“Nothing is decided today, not even close to it,” Klopp wrote in his programme notes and the message was the same post-match.
He’s right but this juggernaut he has created is going to take some stopping. No team has ever made a better start to a season in top-flight history. Liverpool have lost just one of their past 51 league matches. Their consistency has been remarkable.
All season talk has centred around how Liverpool have been winning without performing anywhere near their best — functional and effective rather than eye-catching and dominant. But this was the day when the shackles came off. To a man, Liverpool stepped up, puffed out their chests and delivered. They succeeded in making the most expensively assembled squad in the history of football look distinctly average as City’s defensive frailties were exposed.
Klopp had demanded a show of bravery and that “even the hot dog seller needs to be in top shape”. That clarion call was answered. Nobody let him down. Not even the guy frying the onions.
Here were the fruits of his labour. This was the perfect illustration of what he has created over the past four years through his tactical acumen, shrewd recruitment and the sheer force of his personality.
Klopp has fashioned a team in his own image. It’s jam-packed with quality but they are bound by a relentless work ethic. There are no big egos or cliques, they play for each other and that spirit and unity was there in abundance as City were brushed aside.
“They are ripping teams to shreds,” said Roy Keane in the Sky Sports studio. “The way they are playing is fantastic. There’s no shame in losing to this Liverpool team, they’re amazing.”
The intensity of Liverpool’s dazzling early burst was key. City looked shell-shocked, scarcely able to believe that they found themselves 2-0 down inside 13 minutes. From the first goal to the second goal, Liverpool had just four touches in the final third. But they certainly made them count.
Ilkay Gundogan’s weak clearance was punished by the outstanding Fabinho, who hammered home the opener from 25 yards. The second goal was a thing of beauty. Trent Alexander-Arnold switched play intelligently out to the left and Robertson’s delivery from out wide was majestic. Mohamed Salah didn’t even have to break his stride as he nodded past the hapless Claudio Bravo. City had been ripped to shreds.
Liverpool’s xG was 1.1 which underlines just how clinical they were. City’s was 1.29. Alexander-Arnold had 89 touches, 23 more than any other Liverpool player. He was at his marauding best. His battle with Raheem Sterling was pivotal and the 21-year-old full-back emerged triumphant. It was another chastening Anfield return for Sterling whose every touch was jeered.
City had their moments with Angelino striking the post but defensively Liverpool generally stood firm. Alisson was alert to thwart Sergio Aguero and the Brazil No 1 oozed class and composure. In front of him, Dejan Lovren more than justified his selection after getting the nod ahead of Joe Gomez to partner Virgil van Dijk. The Croatian centre-back has been a lightning rod for criticism at times during his five years at the club but he could hold his head high.
City targeted Lovren but he wasn’t the weak link they thought he would be. The former Southampton defender put his body on the line and did brilliantly to turn Sterling’s effort over the bar in the second half.
Klopp had gone for solidity and control rather than adventure with his midfield selection and it worked a treat. There isn’t a better holding midfielder in Europe than Fabinho, who is growing in stature with every passing week. The quiet Brazilian wasn’t even trusted to start against City in either fixture last season. How far he’s come since.
In front of him, Jordan Henderson defied the virus that had sidelined him from training earlier in the week to put in a real captain’s shift for an hour. Georginio Wijnaldum was equally as dynamic as he ran himself into the ground and produced his best display of the season.
Henderson helped put the game beyond doubt when he darted down the right and curled in the pinpoint cross which Sadio Mane headed inside Bravo’s near post. For Mane, it was the perfect riposte to Guardiola’s pre-match talk about him diving. Sunday was his 100th Premier League start for Liverpool. He has scored 18 goals in his last 17 starts at Anfield.
Liverpool’s front three of Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino never allowed City’s depleted backline to settle. Mane made four tackles – no player on either side made more. At 3-0, Liverpool showcased their maturity and streetwise nature as they slowed the game down. ‘Poetry in motion,’ echoed around Anfield.
Last season’s two battles with City were decided by fine margins. This one wasn’t. Liverpool could have done even more damage with their blistering counter-attacks.
Late on, fatigue kicked in and Liverpool dropped deep. Considering the energy which had been expended to get themselves into a position of such control it was hardly surprising. Bernardo Silva pulled one back and City could have had greater reward but the outcome was never in doubt.
It was the ninth time Klopp has beaten Guardiola in 18 meetings – no manager has inflicted more losses on the Spaniard. Guardiola described Anfield as “the most difficult stadium in the world right now”.
“Nine points is a lot, they lost just one game last season,” he conceded.
Liverpool have won 13 successive home league games – the club’s best run since 1985. Having gone 29 league games unbeaten, they are closing in on the club record of 31 set in 1988.
This is a special team producing incredible feats. They are one slick, unified powerful force. The European champions crave English football’s biggest prize and ending that painful 30-year wait for a 19th league crown.
Last season a healthy lead in the new year was frittered away. But the scalp of City will rightly fuel the belief that this time they simply won’t be denied.
Staggering. What was the cost of the two starting XI?
How much did Liverpool buy the match officials for?
City’s team cost about 50m more than Liverpool. 400m for City, 350 for Liverpool. These figures don’t take into account that Liverpool funded most of their transfers through organic growth (transfer revenues etc) as opposed to financial doping.
Even so, the gap wasn’t as great yesterday which is why Liverpool at full strength are able to compete over 90 minutes. Over a season you would expect that City’s superior strength in depth to easily win the league. Last season was an over achievement by Liverpool and I still expect City to win the league with a bit to spare.