European Leagues

Anfield awash with emotion as Klopp says farewell

Jurgen Klopp punctuated his opening-day mission statement as Liverpool manager by insisting it is not important what people think about you when you arrive, the true measure of achievement is what they think about you when you leave.

As a beaming Klopp disappeared down the tunnel for the final time as Liverpool manager in front of packed stands at 6.46pm on a glorious Merseyside Sunday night, the German was in no doubt about Anfield’s feelings.

Klopp, clad in a red T-shirt with ‘I’ll Never Walk Alone Again’ on the rear and ‘Thank You Luv’ – the phrase he closely associates with the city of Liverpool – on the front, was accompanied by roars of appreciation, smiles and plenty of tears.

It was the finale of a nine-year thrill ride summed up by a banner stretching across the full length of The Kop before kick-off that provided a neat three-word summary of Klopp’s reign from first day to last.

“Doubters. Believers. Conquerors.”

Liverpool ended a season that brought third place and a Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers that gave Klopp his 299th victory in 491 games. Of 167 league games at Anfield, he lost only 12.

This was a football match that took place around Klopp, not in front of him.

Indeed, until the celebrations and tributes kicked into gear near the final whistle, the normally highly animated, often agitated, manager was a low-key figure.

Klopp did not stalk the technical area, instead sitting alongside his loyal, long-time lieutenant Peter Krawietz, seemingly content to just take in the closing 90 minutes at the place where he has built a legend.

This was the day when Liverpool and their supporters wanted nothing other than to pay homage to Klopp, his crowning achievements being winning the Champions League in 2019 – the club’s sixth win in the competition – then bringing the league title back to Anfield for the first time in 30 years the following year.

From the moment thousands of Liverpool fans basked in the sunshine on Anfield Road hours before kick-off waiting to greet Klopp one last time as he took his seat at the front of the team coach, this was an occasion that went through the full range of emotions he has brought to the club.

As soon as foot was set inside Anfield, the playlist set the tone with All Things Must Pass by George Harrison followed by The Monkees’ I’m A Believer – another reference to Klopp’s “we must turn doubters into believers” message in his opening address.

There was even a somewhat suspect German version of The Beatles’ I Feel Fine, the anthem adopted by Liverpool’s fans as I’m So Glad Jurgen Is A Red.

Klopp looked emotional as Anfield belted out You’ll Never Walk Alone, owner John W Henry flying in from Boston, impassive behind his sunglasses, to take a seat in the directors’ box shortly before kick-off, wanting to deliver his own personal thanks to the man who helped him fulfil the dreams he had for Liverpool.

Three sides of Anfield were transformed by mosaics – ‘Danke’ in the Anfield Road, ‘Jurgen’ stretching the expanse of the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, with ‘YNWA’ on The Kop.

Klopp stayed seated, head bowed, clad in a black baseball cap and black T-shirt. The final act of a dramatic sporting story had begun.

In reality, the game was little more than a pleasant backdrop to the Klopp farewell – first-half goals from Alex Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah giving Liverpool a deserved 2-0 win.

And then it was time for the finale all Anfield had been waiting for.

Seconds from the final whistle, Klopp stood up and went along his backroom team one by one, all grabbed in the familiar bearhug.

His only mis-step all afternoon was going slightly too early through a guard of honour formed by Liverpool’s players and officials, but no matter – he did another lap for good measure before approaching a platform of club dignitaries to thunderous roars and applause.

He made his way down a line including Henry, chief executive Billy Hogan, chairman Tom Werner and club legend Sir Kenny Dalglish before receiving a presentation recording the honours he has brought to Anfield.

Klopp delivered a pre-recorded message on giant screens to Borussia Dortmund’s supporters when he left the club, after breaking down in tears when he addressed fans on leaving Mainz.

No such worries this time.

Anfield has no screens but this was no problem for Klopp, who was in boisterous mood as he took the microphone.

He said “I’m so happy. I can’t believe it” before bursting into song as an instrument for passing the Liverpool torch from himself to soon-to-be-annointed successor Arne Slot.

Simply replacing his own name with Slot’s, Klopp told Anfield what they must do when the Dutchman arrives, singing: “Arne Slot, na na na na na” to the tune of Opus’ Live Is Life.

As with all Klopp’s demands, expect them to follow to the letter.

If Slot was watching, he may have felt daunted by the task of replacing a manager and personality plenty believe is irreplaceable but he would have been hugely grateful for such an endorsement from his predecessor, even if it was a musical one.

Preaching to the most converted fanbase in football, Klopp said: “We have you, the superpower of world football. We decide if we are worried or excited. We decide if we believe. We decide if we trust or don’t trust and since today I am one of you and I keep believing in you.”

And then it was time for one final round of Klopp fist pumps in front of The Kop, this time accompanied by his support staff, met with the usual staccato roars.

Anfield demanded one final encore of a scene acted out at the end of so many triumphs. Klopp obliged – six for The Kop and three for the surrounding stands.

“I love you to bits,” shouted Klopp, who delivering an optimistic parting shot as he said: “It doesn’t feel like an end. It just feels like a start. Today I saw a football team full of talent, youth, creativity, desire and greed.”

As Klopp pulled out of Anfield late on Sunday night and left Liverpool behind after his long farewell, the curtain closed on an era.

The murals adorning the sides of houses close to Anfield will remain as reminders of the seismic impact Jurgen Klopp had on Liverpool – but the man who made doubters believers was gone.

Culled from BBC

Premier League

Ruud van Nistelrooy Enjoys Winning Start With Leicester

Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream start to his reign as Leicester manager after a 3-1 win over West Ham, whose boss Julen Lopetugui is under increasing pressure.

Van Nistelrooy has replaced Steve Cooper at the King Power Stadium and saw Jamie Vardy open the scoring after just 98 seconds.

Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka added goals after the break to ensure the Dutchman started with three points in style.

His task is to keep the Foxes in the Premier League this season and after ending a five-game winless run they moved up to 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone.

West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”.

Niclas Fullkrug scored a consolation goal at the death but it counted for nothing and forthcoming games against Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future.

When Van Nistelrooy went to bed last night, even he would not have dreamt of his side starting as well as they did as they went ahead with less than two minutes on the clock.

One of the Dutchman’s first conversations following his appointment was to take Vardy to task for breaking his record for scoring in the most consecutive Premier League games nine years ago.

And the veteran striker rolled back to the years as, living on the shoulder of the West Ham defence, he raced clear from El Khannouss’ through-ball and slotted into the corner.

The linesman’s flag immediately went up but a lengthy VAR review ruled Vardy had timed his run perfectly and the goal stood.

Vardy could have added a second from a similar move but this time Lukasz Fabianski denied him.

The Dutchman quickly learned about the frailties of his side as West Ham created a raft of chances in search of an equaliser.

Jarrod Bowen forced Mads Hermansen into a stretching save when he cut in from the right before Ings’ header crashed into the post and Max Kilman slipped at the crucial point from the rebound.

Bowen, a constant threat, sent a ball across face of goal which evaded everyone before the England international was denied by a reflex save from the busy Hermansen.

The Danish goalkeeper needed to be alert to tip over Mohammed Kudus’ deflected effort early in the second half before he was saved by the referee’s whistle after after his attempted punch went into his own goal, Tomas Soucek the man penalised.

Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen punches into his own goal while being challenged by Tomas Soucek, with the goal disallowed

Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and that is how they doubled their lead just after the hour.

Kasey McAteer was set clear down the left and his ball inside was perfect for El Khannouss to find the bottom corner from 15 yards.

It was almost three as Fabianski produced an acrobatic save from Wilfred Ndidi’s header before Leicester needed a heroic piece of defending to keep their 2-0 lead intact.

Premier League

‘I Don’t Need Him’ – Amorim Shows Man United’s Defender Exit Door

Having picked up their first Premier League win under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United‘s focus is starting to turn towards the January transfer window.

Amorim’s men thumped Everton on Sunday to move into the top-half of the Premier League table. The Portuguese coach will be handed the chance to bring in reinforcements in just under a month’s time.

United are expected to be one of the busier top-flight sides in the transfer market, given their awful season and Amorim’s recent appointment. Despite scoring four goals against the Toffees, a striker may well be high up Amorim’s list of targets.

Amorim’s Amad demand
Amad starred as United thumped Everton on Sunday, but club chiefs have a decision to make with his contract expiring in the summer. Boss Amorim has firmly stated his position, with the winger set to be a key part of his plans.

“He is really big in talent, but small in size. He did a great job but he also has to improve. He was really good again. You could feel it in the end of the game he was really, really tired,” Amorim said.

“So we have to manage that and increase his physical ability. I’d like to take credit for [Amad’s pressing], but that’s him. He’s like that. He’s smart. He’s explosive.”

A new striker appears to be high on Amorim’s list of targets for the January transfer window. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the current senior forwards on the books at Old Trafford.

But it appears Amorim may be ready to cut ties with Zirkzee, with Ruleta Sport reporting United are ‘on the trail’ of Victor Osimhen. It is said they have offered the Dutchman and a fee to Napoli in exchange for Osimhen.

Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres is thought to be Amorim’s top target, though the manager believes they may demand too much. As a result he is ‘testing the waters’ for Osimhen, with Zirkzee thought to not be a good fit for Amorim’s style of play.

Shaw hint dropped
United boss Amorim has admitted that Luke Shaw wants more game-time. The defender has spent much of the season sidelined with calf and knee injuries, making only three appearances in total.

All of those have come from the bench, including in the win over Everton. And Amorim has revealed that with the January window on the horizon, Shaw is keen to have a bigger role.

The United boss said: “Luke Shaw wants to play more, but we have to control it; we have to rotate the team. In the future, we will have a different system; you can see more of a starting XI.”

Premier League

Real Reason Why Arsenal Are Above Chelsea In Premier League Table

From The Vault: Five Classic Games At West Ham

There have been significant changes at the top of the Premier League table following this weekend’s action.

Liverpool now lead the way by nine points following yet another statement win under Arne Slot, this time at home to Manchester City as goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah sealed a deserved 2-0 win.

A fourth Premier League defeat in succession for Pep Guardiola’s side means they have slipped out of the top four altogether by virtue of an inferior goal difference to Brighton.

As a result, Arsenal and Chelsea are now the nearest challengers to the Merseyside outfit as the London pair sit second and third respectively after winning by three-goal margins at the weekend.

The Gunners beat West Ham United 5-2, whilst the Blues overcame Aston Villa 3-0 at Stamford Bridge with Cole Palmer scoring the pick of the goals.

Those results left the pair with identical records. Both have now won seven games, drawn four, lost two, scored 26 goals and conceded 12 in the Premier League this season.

Interestingly though, Arsenal sit above Chelsea in the table and it’s not because ‘A’ appears in the alphabet before ‘C’.

No, the reason is due to a Premier League ruling with regard to separating teams level on points, as the first method to split them should be goal difference, followed by goals scored, followed by which team collected the most points during matches between the two sides.

If those first three methods cannot separate them then the team that scored more away goals during their head-to-head matches is the fourth criteria.