What legacy does Juergen Klopp leave at Liverpool?
Report Card: Grade A-
Merseyside. There could not have been a more poignant geography for the wheels to come off for Liverpool’s season. The 0–3 defeat to Atalanta at Anfield, and 0–2 loss at Goodison Park to Everton ensured that Klopp would end his final season with just the Carabao Cup.
English football is extremely competitive. A trophy is a trophy. However, judging by the dreams Klopp allowed Liverpool fans and neutrals to have, it seemed underwhelming.
So, what has Klopp’s legacy been? To answer lies in understanding the journey rather than judging the final destination.
Orientation
Liverpool FC had lost its way in the Premier League era. The failed title challenge of 2013/14 (“Crystanbul” and “Slippy G”) and the squandering of Suarez’ sale money on a meme-worthy frontline of Balotelli-Borini-Lambert would’ve depressed even the most ardent fans. LFC had reached its lowest point. Midway through the 2015/16 season, Rodgers was sacked, and the “Normal One” was ushered in, from a club (Dortmund) whose challenger spirit had shaken-up the monotony of the Bundesliga.
In his press conference, Klopp openly set a target of winning a trophy within four years (his first trophy was indeed won after four years!).
The target articulated; Klopp’s immediate task seemed obvious: bring in his brand of football and rebuild the squad. Until the arrival of Guardiola a season later, Klopp’s gegenpressing based model was the most esoteric tactical import into the Premier League.
While tactical changes were implemented quickly, personnel changes were more circumspect, to ensure that the right personnel were brought in. It would take 3–4 seasons to build up to their best squad which included buying Salah, Alisson and van Dijk.
The most radical shift was in terms of outlook.
Under Klopp, Liverpool made a clean break from its past.
For clubs with long histories, this is not easy to do.
As Klopp said in a brilliant club interview:
the history of this club is so big and it was all about winning, but it always caused the following generations problems because everybody thought, ‘we are just not good enough’…you will never be happy, so get rid of that”
Klopp talked about the pressure of historic expectations, and the importance of setting them aside in order to make a new start which suits the present circumstances and conditions. He credited the players and public for buying into this vision. The past was set aside — purposely. It was however not forgotten. Klopp had a rule that players could only touch the sign at Anfield after they had won a trophy.
Timely transition is the most important survival skill for a club.
Style
The right vision is nothing if not matched by style. Today’s audiences demand that their teams play, or attempt to play, beautiful football. LFC built a distinctive style around gegenpressing, a tactic invented by Ralf Rangnick but taken to heart by Klopp. The team uses a high-press to generate turnovers. From 2018–2022, LFC’s front-three, aided by mobile full-backs formed a formidable attacking quintet. For anyone watching Liverpool, this style is visibly evident, validating Klopp’s “dream”:
“…we can play in any random shirt but if you watched us play you would say ‘Ah that’s Liverpool’”.
Klopp’s LFC had a coherent and understandable style and “identity” on the pitch. This translated to popular appeal and brand value.
Things however always change in football. Players change, opponents wizen up, injuries happen. All this influences tactical-revamps.
After the 2022 UCL Final, Ancelotti provided perhaps the most damning indictment of LFC — they were too “predictable”.
As the 2022–23 season threatened to unravel, Klopp undertook a mid-seasonal tactical revamp, moving to the midfield “box” that Brighton and Hove Albion’s de Zerbi had introduced to the Premier League.
While Klopp moved to a more practical style, the gegenpress regime will remain his unique contribution to English football. Perennial rival Guardiola has often praised Klopp’s Liverpool for their intense pressing-game and for being “always in your face”.
Re-defining success
As competitions expand and as clubs become more competitive, trophies are becoming harder to come by. The demands of fans are also changing. While they always want trophies, they also demand good style.
Success today is more nuanced than trophies. Fans are willing to temper trophy expectations if their team employs a good style and puts in honest, robust and technically proficient performances.
In his interview with Sky Sport, Klopp puts clear emphasis on results, but ensconces it in the broader context of being competitive:
“[we want to] give each team in the world a proper game and hopefully more often than not we can win these games and then it’s all good so let’s carry on”
In line with Klopp’s vision, for most part, LFC have given teams a “proper game”, won games more often than not, and have demonstrated a unique pro-active style of football.
Critics will point to the solitary league and UCL titles. Klopp’s LFC however have also lost two league titles by 1 point and were runners-up in 3 UCL and 1 Europa League finals.
A trophy or two more would’ve given Klopp an A+ rating. Even the harshest critic however will rate his tenure as an A-. In the upper echelon “for sure” (to use Klopp’s favourite phrase).
Under Klopp, Liverpool fans have experienced success in both the conventional (trophy) and holistic (style) sense.
Since Klopp’s arrival, LFC have improved their brand value, their like-ability (reflected from Klopp’s likeability), trophy cabinet, and ability to attract world-class talent. They evolved in a sustainable and holistic manner without significantly sacrificing their ambitions. The most credible summary came from Fenway Group owner John Henry, who after the UCL and EPL wins said that Liverpool were “back on their perch”.
Very few managers have the multi-faceted personality to help their club develop both on and off the pitch in this manner.
The 2023–24 season made for an anti-climactic end. Mitigating factors existed. Player departures, injuries, failure to sign a #6 (and settling for make-shift option) — all played a part. Despite this, LFC competed for 3 trophies until mid-April.
In a way, it kind of represents Klopp’s legacy. It’s had many high points, the some-low points and a dose of stoic reality. The trendline however always remained above average — for the league and club.
Klopp and Guardiola locking horns ushered in the golden era of the Premier League. The LFC-MCI rivalry became the English El Classico.
For LFC, Klopp has proven equally foundational. Between the literal and figurative slip up at Crystal Palace in 2014 and 2024, Klopp took Liverpool through two transitions: 2015–2022 and 2022–2024.
Most importantly, he knew the right time to step down. As his successor “slots” in (pun intended), Klopp’s judiciously timed exit may prove to be just as impactful for LFC, as his arrival.
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