After 30 years, Liverpool have lifted a Premier League title.
For supporters in Merseyside, it has been well worth the wait. The rebuilding job that Jurgen Klopp has completed will ensure this season’s Liverpool side are fondly remembered in Premier League history.
From Alisson to Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah on the wings, the club has invested wisely, picked the right manager to take them forward and are now among the best teams in the world.
Not only has the club invested wisely – but Klopp has managed to spot the potential of many players and shape them into world beaters. Jordan Henderson as a Champions League winning captain is just one example of that.
For far too long, the Reds were nowhere near competition for a Premier League title. Even under Rafa Benitez, the master behind the iconic 2005 comeback in Istanbul, could not get them over the line.
Gerard Houllier, Roy Hodgson, Kenny Daglish (in his second spell) and Brendan Rodgers have all come and gone since 2000 – with the latter coming very close to winning the title in 2013/14.
Five points clear with three games to go – surely 2014 was finally Liverpool’s time? Two losses in the next two games destroyed that dream and the following season ended in disappointment, with the Reds finishing in sixth after a humiliating 6-1 loss to Stoke City in the final game of that season. Just over four months later, Rodgers was sacked with the club sitting in tenth position.
Jurgen Klopp had a huge job on his hands at that point, both Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling’s departures in the summer of 2015 left a big gap in the side – and they had barely recovered from Luis Suarez’s move to Barcelona in the July of 2014.
Liverpool were in real danger of falling down the table and losing their status as a European footballing side. What Klopp needed was patience and the financial resources to build a squad that could compete.
To the owners’ credit, the German was given time to prove his worth and made the right investments at the right time. Even though the club made two world record signings in Allison Becker and Virgil Van Dijk, they have both been integral to their starting lineup and have not been signed just for the sake of exciting the fans.
From there, they have incorporated bright British talent with the likes of Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. This is not just exciting for Liverpool supporters – but for football fans around the country who follow the England national team.
This is without mentioning the iconic front three: Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. If they can continue to tear up the top tier, they could be remembered as icons and legends of the game when they hang up their boots.
Jurgen Klopp has played a role in all these positive things that have happened at Anfield since he took over in 2015. Now that he has built a squad that competes at the very top of the game – the manager can also focus on building for the future, something he has already done with Alexander-Arnold.
We have also seen glimpses of Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Neco Williams – just to name a few promising players who could become future stars. With Jurgen Klopp at the helm, the club can keep building on this success.
Everyone associated with Liverpool Football Club deserves this success – for building a vision, for remaining patient and for their fans’ support through the years. However, the club needs to keep hold of Jurgen Klopp at all costs – because he seems to be the only manager who can properly compete with Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side at this moment in time.
If they can keep Klopp at the club until 2024 (when his contract expires) and beyond – the trophies will only keep on coming.
They may need to start building an even larger trophy cabinet…
Article written exclusively for golear.co.uk