Liverpool’s decline at the end of the season ended any hopes of a dream farewell for Juergen Klopp at Anfield. But it doesn’t matter, that’s just a characteristic of Klopp’s coaching career.
Above all, no matter how Liverpool ends the season, the legacy that Klopp leaves behind at Anfield is eternal, enough for him to be forever remembered by Liverpudlians.
Can’t blame Klopp
The 2-2 draw with West Ham, coupled with victories for Man City and Arsenal, means Klopp’s realistic hopes for a second Premier League title have ended. Klopp is weary, and so is Liverpool. The frenzy of emotions generated after the League Cup final has dissipated.
Questions will arise about Klopp’s wisdom in prematurely revealing his departure from the club. Would the touchline altercation with Mohamed Salah last Saturday have occurred if the Egyptian superstar believed Klopp would still be his manager next season?
The strange thing is, Liverpool haven’t played terribly in recent weeks. As Klopp has pointed out, they’ve had opportunities to defeat not only West Ham, but also Man United, Crystal Palace, and even Atalanta. They’ve squandered too many scoring chances, made some amateurish defensive mistakes, and gradually let things slip away as fatigue and frustration spread throughout the team.
Injuries have certainly taken a heavy toll on Liverpool, as has the transition in personnel, especially in midfield. No one thought both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson would depart, while Wataru Endo, no matter how well he’s performed, is just a stopgap solution. Up front, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz lack the sharpness of a top striker, while Salah has fallen into a crisis after suffering a thigh muscle injury at the African Cup of Nations.
Klopp won the Champions League with Liverpool, but also lost three other European Cup finals
Klopp’s legacy is forever
In that context, Liverpool has done very well to remain in the title race. As for Klopp, he’s simply experiencing another “special” season in his coaching career.
At Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, and now Liverpool, Klopp has always faced adversity. He’s consistently had to contend with at least one opponent with better resources than the team he’s leading.
With Liverpool, Klopp has won the Champions League but also lost in three European cup finals. He helped Liverpool end their long wait for the Premier League title, but also finished second twice, and this season could be the third time. With Dortmund, he won the Bundesliga twice but also finished second twice.
Klopp also won the German Cup once, but finished second twice and also lost a Champions League final with Dortmund. It would be foolish to criticize Klopp for those runner-up finishes, but it also indicates that he almost always faces difficulties at the crucial moment regardless of the opponent. Klopp has been beaten in the final minutes by Bayern, Real Madrid, or Man City, but he has also faltered against Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolfsburg, and Sevilla.
Some argue that Klopp’s achievement of one Champions League and one Premier League title is somewhat modest, but context is crucial. He accomplished that feat against a much wealthier club led by one of the greatest managers in history, Man City’s. In the two seasons when Liverpool finished second, they amassed 97 and 92 points, figures that would have secured the title in previous years.
Or, to put it simply, answer this question: who are the top 5 greatest managers in Premier League history? Klopp will surely be on that list alongside Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, and Guardiola.
Klopp has transformed Liverpool from a sleeping giant into a heavyweight contender in the race for trophies. He brought back the brand of football favored in England 40 years ago, revitalizing and perfecting it before “selling it back” to the English. Klopp has crafted a team that even neutral fans eagerly anticipate watching.
This season hasn’t ended as Klopp and Liverpool desired. Fatigue has triumphed, and reality has set in. It’s another season of enthusiasm, of greatness that Klopp can only glimpse but not grasp.