Jurgen Klopp has finally decided to leave Liverpool, ending an eight-year relationship which can be termed as one of the best times in the club’s history. In a video message, Klopp announced his decision, stating that he was running out of energy and, thus, this was the perfect time for him to leave the club.
In his tenure at the club, Klopp has changed Liverpool from being a team struggling to get into the top six to the Premier League to a team that is a nightmare even to the best teams across Europe.
During his stay at the club, Klopp broke several records and scripted many memories that will remain in the fans’ memories forever.
So, without further ado, let’s look at some of the best Liverpool moments under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool’s win over Manchester City in the 2015-16 season
Many people would have forgotten the game when Liverpool travelled to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the 2015-16 season. Klopp had taken charge of the club only a month back, and only some expected the Reds to come away with anything.
However, what transpired that evening for the first time showed beyond his genius tactical brain; Klopp was also one of the best motivators. Liverpool started the game on the front foot and left the home team in shock by scoring three goals in 32 minutes.
City got a goal back, but Martin Skrtel’s goal in the 81st minute put the game beyond doubt. While Klopp has achieved far bigger wins in his career, this win was his first proof that he could turn ‘doubters into believers’.
Early days in Jurgen Klopp’s reign but this is quite a statement from his #lfc side at the Etihad. Players clearly relishing playing for him
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) November 21, 2015
A dream Europe League run
Beating City was not the only brilliant achievement for Klopp in his debut season; he also took Liverpool all the way to the Europa League final. After topping their group, Liverpool Augsburg set up a Round of 16 clash with Manchester United.
In both legs, Liverpool’s Gegenpressing was on full show, and if it were not for Davi de Gea, the scoreline would have been much bigger than 3-1. However, Klopp’s best came against his former club Borussia Dortmund.
The first leg at Signal Iduna Park finished 1-1 before the returning leg at Anfield. Dortmund stunned the home crowd in the second leg as they raced to a 2-0 lead inside ten minutes. Divock Origi got a goal back, but Dortmund restored their two-goal cushion once again.
With less than half an hour remaining, Liverpool needed three goals, and Klopp urged the Anfield crowd to act as the 12th man.
The result was three goals, with Lovren’s winner coming in injury time, giving Liverpool one of their biggest comebacks.
Liverpool 4-3 Dortmund. One of many 𝗜𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖 games from the Jürgen Klopp era. 🙌pic.twitter.com/ow5ObWJXgY
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 26, 2024
The greatest comeback ft. Champions League win
When Liverpool unveiled Jurgen Klopp as their manager in 2015, he said that it would take him three years to win Liverpool a trophy. So, by the time the 2018-19 season started, that prediction’s deadline was coming close.
And Klopp was truly prepared to fulfil his prophecy. However, Liverpool in the Premier League was unlucky as despite scoring 97 points, they lost out to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who won the title by a single point.
While the Premier League title race was already going on, Liverpool faced another big challenge as they were trailing Barcelona 3-0 after the first leg of the UEFA Champions League. This meant Liverpool had to make a comeback as big as the one they did in Istanbul against AC Milan.
To make matters worse, the team were without two of their best attackers, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah. It was looking all but certain that Klopp’s men were going out. However, on that famous night, Liverpool scored four, conceded none, and scripted history.
This win came against a team with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, and Marc Andre Ter Stegen. To this date, this remains one of the Champions League’s best wins.
Liverpool would go into the final and beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to win their first major trophy in years.
WHAT A SPECIAL NIGHT!!! WE’RE GOING TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL!! https://t.co/p9JxS3cfZS
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 7, 2019
The Premier League is won
Despite winning the Champions League, every Liverpool fan wanted the elusive Premier League trophy, which they had won 30 years back. Klopp had already raised their expectations with a Champions League.
However, beating City was looking like a tall order and needed something special. And what they produced was beyond exceptional. After the first 27 games, Liverpool had accrued 79 points (26 wins and one draw). This was a title charge of the highest quality with the Reds at one time commanding a 25-point lead in the table, the highest in Premier League history. They won the title with seven games to spare.
Liverpool never lost a game at home that season, and after August 17, they were never displaced from the top of the table. Klopp had not only helped Liverpool win the title but also done it as the most dominant title charge the league had ever seen.
📸 Smile lads, you’re @premierleague champions! 😁 pic.twitter.com/Z8plcRNLCd
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 26, 2020
Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United
The 2022-23 season was far from perfect for Liverpool as they massively underperformed. One of the major reasons cited was the emotional toll the 2021-22 season had taken. Liverpool had lost both the Premier League and Champions League trophies by the barest of margins that season.
In gameweek 25 of this season, Liverpool welcomed Manchester United to Anfield. The Red Devils were ten points ahead of Klopp’s form, and based on the two team’s performance, many people expected Erik Ten Hag’s men to at least come away with a draw.
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) March 5, 2023
What followed will forever be etched in the golden pages of Premier League history. With their backs against the wall, Liverpool went all guns blazing, putting seven past a hapless David de Gea. Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and Darwin Nunez all got braces, while Firmino put United out of their misery with the final goal in the 88th minute.