Doubters to believers: How Jurgen Klopp turned defence into attack

How Liverpool evolved from Oct 2015 – July 2020

Part four of a five part series on the Reds’ progress under Jürgen Klopp. Read article one, two and three here.

Despite only losing once and accruing 97 points in 2018/19, Liverpool finished second to Manchester City.

In years gone by, defeats would cost teams the title, not draws, yet in this season, a series of draws in the first quarter of the New Year ultimately cost Liverpool the league title by  a solitary point.

Many records were broken but not those one would wish for because there was still no silverware. However, at long last, defensive frailties had been addressed. In Klopp’s first season, Liverpool conceded 50 goals. In his first full season, it was 42.

In 2018-19, they let in the fewest goals in the Premier League.

Within days of the 2018-19 title heading to the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool played the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona at Anfield facing a three-goal deficit. To further the challenge, there was no Mohamed Salah and no Roberto Firmino playing.

Liverpool had to beat Barcelona, captained by the world’s best Lionel Messi, by four clear goals. If Istanbul 2005 was gold, St Etienne, Olympiacos and Borussia Dortmund joint silver, the night of 7th May 2019 re-ordered that hierarchy.

Gini Wijnaldum who came on as a substitute following an injury to the effervescent Andy Robertson, scored a double as did Divock Origi – who would not have played had it not been for injuries to Salah and Firmino. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s swiftly taken corner was another moment of history and worthy of a mural.

Origi was to do it again in Madrid in the Champions League final securing a 2-0 win for the Reds and breaking the trophy curse.

A 6th European Cup was in the bag.

The last Liverpool manager to win the European Cup, Rafa Benitez,  tweeted his congratulations to the club. shortly after the victory.

Klopp joined Benitez, Joe Fagan and the great Bob Paisley as the only Liverpool manager’s to have won the continent’s top prize.

One area of continuity from Rodgers to Klopp was the captain’s armband. Signed by Kenny Dalglish in his second spell, Jordan Henderson who was so close to leaving for Fulham in a swap deal for Clint Dempsey in 2012, carried the burden of being Steven Gerrard’s successor and being the skipper as each final was lost.

If Mo Salah’s semi-final t-shirt – ‘Never Give Up’ was written for anyone, it was the ‘Titan from Tyne & Wear’ who carried aloft the European Cup and joining one elite club of Liverpool legends.

Could he join the other by landing the holy grail of the Premier League? A mural awaited…

Riaz Ravat is a member of Liverpool FC’s Equality & Diversity Fan Forum. He writes in his own capacity.