I’m not a Jurgen Klopp fan. Yes, that’s how I’m starting this piece. I’m not a Jurgen Klopp fan. I don’t like his demeanour. I don’t like his energy or the way he gurns and punches the air whenever his team scores. I can’t stand his passive aggressive interviews after a defeat and I sure as Hell find it hard not to say “shut up” whenever someone goes on about how refreshing he is. There. I said it.

Those of you whose attention I still hold, thanks for reading on. The rest who’ve no doubt closed the page and proceeded to tear this article apart on social media, thanks for the free publicity.
I decided to do a write up on Klopp after reading Andy Dunn’s , titled “The romanticism that once surrounded Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has gone – he’s just another chequebook manager now”. The headline is the perfect bait for rustled acolytes of Kopp and the “non believers” to have a peek. Truth be told, there was nothing scathing or heinous about it. No jokes about Liverpool signing a 40 goal player to finish 4th. No tongue in cheek comments relating to Lovren’s choice of words before the World Cup final and Klopp’s loyalty to the Croat. Nothing like that at all.

In fact, Andy pretty much summed up what I and many others believe is the reason behind the German’s summer window splurge: “He is paying preposterously inflated transfer fees to solve obvious problems.”
Let’s go back to the 4th of October 2015 when Brendan “” Rodgers was told “adios” by FSG following a 1-1 draw in the Merseyside derby. With the club planted 10th and lacking direction, Jurgen Klopp took the hot seat. Liverpool ended the season 8th, losing 2 cup finals (League Cup and Europa League) on Klopp’s watch, adding to the comedy value (for rival fans) and enhanced the notion that the king of Gegenpressing was nothing more than a bombastic fraud.

Klopp’s first (two thirds of a) season wasn’t a complete disaster. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Emphatic wins away to Chelsea (1-3), Man City (1-4) gave us an idea as to what Liverpool are capable of. Add a 6-0 hiding dished out to Aston Villa at Villa Park, a 4-0 hammering of rivals Everton and another win over Man City (3-0), and you could see a fear factor creeping back to Anfield. On the flip side, there were some terrible results and performances. Defeats at the hands of Crystal Palace (H), Newcastle, Watford, West Ham, Leicester, Southampton and Swansea (all away) asked questions about Klopp’s adaptability to the Premier League and loyalty to below par performers.

Klopp wasted no time getting rid of some deadwood in the summer, shipping out the likes of Jose Enrique, Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel, Joe Allen and Christian Benteke, while some of the future starlets who failed to impress found pastures new. In came a mixture of players with pace, technical ability, power and (some) tactical awareness, namely Mane, Wijnaldum and Matip. A sign of things to come from both Klopp and FSG.
A 4th place finish meant Klopp achieved the main target – Champions League qualification. Another step in the right direction, as stated by many fans. The added bonus for the Redmen was the ease and speed in which Mane settled in. The £30m signing from Southampton terrorised defenders throughout the season, netting 13 goals from out wide. An impressive feat.

Season 2017-18 began in controversial circumstances as the club were accused of illegally approaching Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk, while Barcelona couldn’t have made their interest in Coutinho more obvious if they tried. Despite winning 2 games from their opening 4, Klopp’s desperation to sign van Dijk was clear to see as his back line shipped 8 goals (granted, 5 were at Man City).

Come May, Liverpool had exceeded expectations at the start of the season by not only obtaining a top 4 spot but also reaching the Champions League final. Van Dijk’s influence was plain to see but all eyes was on £36.9m summer signing – Mohammed Salah – whose 43 goals (in all competitions) raised more than just eyebrows. Arguably, had it not been for the Egyptian damaging his shoulder in Kyiv, Liverpool fans would be bragging about a 6th European Cup. Then again, I doubt Salah would have been able to do anything about Karius’ clangers.
Its no secret that Liverpool have struggled to find a reliable goalkeeper since Pepe Reina left. Mignolet has made his fair share of mistakes, while Loris Karius (signed by Klopp).. Well, let’s leave it at that. To Klopp’s credit, he’s (indirectly) held his hands up and admitted it wasn’t the wisest decision to bring in Karius, addressing the issue by recruiting Brazil’s number 1 Alisson. The £65m fee for the former Roma ‘keeper takes Liverpool’s summer spending to £175m. Add the £75m bank transfer for van Dijk in January and the grand total for 2018 is £250m. Stakes well and truly risen.

Let’s get this straight. It’s a huge outlay over a short period of time and the pressure is undoubtedly on Klopp to deliver a trophy and mount a serious title charge – but who says they can’t or won’t? There’s enough evidence to prove Liverpool have progressed under Klopp. The improved league positions and two European finals say so. Klopp has spent £250m in seven months. Who cares? Again, look at the facts. The major signings have delivered. Even Oxlade-Chamberlain, a player who regressed under Wenger, started to look like the player Arsenal wanted him to turn out to be after moving up north.

Klopp hasn’t gone against his morals by spending big to improve the squad. He isn’t a hypocrite for wanting to assemble a group that’s capable of challenging on all fronts. With the greatest respect to Emre Can and Jordan Henderson, Keita and Fabinho have much, much more in their locker. Sorry Adam Lallana but Shaqiri poses more of an attacking threat than you. And as for Mr Karius, I’m afraid your time is up. Pep Guardiola has brought in around 20 players at Man City and they’re no closer to winning the European Cup than Liverpool are. The agenda is real!

Time will tell if the new recruits will bring a league title back to Liverpool for the first time in 28 years. No one other than FSG knows how thin or long the tightrope Klopp treads on is (if it exists). One thing is for certain though. No matter how much I disagree with those who feel Klopp is a chequebook manager, I’ll always dislike him.

Boom.

Image source: https://citizentv.co.ke/sports/klopp-cannot-spend-100m-pounds-on-a-player-135370/