LAST UPDATE | 19 May 2024
LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp told Anfield to never stop believing and to welcome his successor Arne Slot like they welcomed him as “change is good”.
Speaking at a presentation on the pitch, made by owners John W Henry and Tom Werner, chief executive Billy Hogan and Sir Kenny Dalglish after the 2-0 victory over Wolves, the German addressed the crowd and offered a positive outlook on the future.
“You welcome the new manager like you welcomed me. You go all-in from the first day. And you keep believing and you push the team. Change is good,” said Klopp, who sang the name of Slot to the tune of one of the songs the crowd sing about him.
🔴🎤 Arne Slot has been announced as new Liverpool manager… by Jurgen Klopp. 😂 pic.twitter.com/kWG8ounPvD
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 19, 2024
“No one tells you to stop believing. This club may be in the best position ever – I’ve not asked Kenny if it’s ever: we have this wonderful stadium, wonderful training centre, we have you, the superpower of world football.
“We decide if we are worried or excited. We decide if we believe. We decide if we trust or don’t trust and since today I am one of you and I keep believing in you.”
Klopp’s 491st and final game in charge was a 2-0 victory over Wolves, during which the Kop restored some of the old favourites to their songbook, hailing some of the now-departed greats – Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi – of the manager’s reign.
However, fittingly it was two players who represent the longer-term future of Liverpool – Alexis Mac Allister signed last summer in a midfield revamp and 21-year-old centre-back Jarell Quansah – who scored the goals after Nelson Semedo was sent off.
After almost nine years of stability there is uncertainty ahead at almost every turn as the majority of the backroom staff will leave with Klopp and the likes of 30-somethings Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold entering the final year of their contracts.
There is plenty for incoming Feyenoord boss Arne Slot to deal with but he has at least been left with a squad which, but for a two-week blip in April, would probably have been in the final-day title picture instead of providing the support act to Klopp’s Anfield farewell.
The records he leaves are almost too numerous to mention but, aside from seven major trophies, include Liverpool’s longest unbeaten league run at home – three years and 272 days between 2017 and 2021.
“This is the season we aimed for the moon and ended up in the stars,” Klopp wrote in his programme notes.
“This is a club that is ready to take the journey in a new and exciting direction, not one that is ready for the journey to come to an end.”
But this was very much a celebration of the recent past with the name of the manager, noticeably less animated on the touchline, sung constantly.
The match did not really spring into life until the 28th minute when Semedo was sent off for an over-the-top challenge on Mac Allister after VAR David Coote advised referee Chris Kavanagh to view the pitchside monitor.
Wolves want Premier League clubs to vote this summer on abolishing VAR but they could have had little argument with that one.
Mac Allister exacted his revenge six minutes later, rising between centre-backs Santiago Bueno and Max Kilman to head home Harvey Elliott’s inswinging cross.
When Wataru Endo’s shot was tipped around a post by Jose Sa, Alexander-Arnold whipped in the corner, Cody Gakpo flicked it on to Salah at the far post and his shot deflected up off Bueno for Quansah to force the ball home on the line.
Van Dijk’s shoulder-to-shoulder challenge on Matheus Cunha had Wolves screaming for a penalty but there was no referral.
The only thing missing to round off the perfect send-off was a goal for Salah, the talisman of the German’s era at Anfield with 211 goals in 349 appearances.
It was not for want of trying, however, as he was thwarted by Sa and Kilman late in the first half and then three times again by the goalkeeper after the break.
When Luis Diaz turned Gakpo’s cross onto the crossbar, rebounding down onto the line, Klopp pulled his baseball cap over his eyes and flashed that beaming smile of his.
Gakpo and Mac Allister also had chances in a second-half procession but that mattered less than a first clean sheet in 16 matches, secured by Alisson Becker’s save from Pedro Neto’s free-kick.
Klopp leaves with the highest win percentage – 62 per cent – any Liverpool manager in charge for more than 30 matches and the first to win his final game since Matt McQueen in 1928.
But it will be the memories, the emotional journey, which fans will remember than the trophies and statistics as the whole ground – including owners John W Henry and Tom Werner – stood to applaud as his name was chanted non-stop for the final 10 minutes of his tenure.
He has a point regarding pin placements but as it was the same for both teams there is a hint of sour grapes about it.
@Ronan Doyle: exactly , sour grapes. Same for everyone Im afraid. Suck it up Justin.
Difference is, when your going for a win you have to play differently and be more aggressive compared to defending a lead.
We clearly need a Brexit for our Ryder cup team. Doing fine with the rest of the nationalities.
@Johnnathan Biskalero: That course was set up like a pay for play, keep them moving, can’t lose a ball, hit it anywhere you want, hen run. That’s the PGA of America business and having lost on proper Professional tournament courses they had to make it easy and hope for the best.
Can’t wait to see how they handle the Golf national de Paris, a proper Course that’ll be set up for a professional tournament.
That’s what I love about the Ryder cup. The captains lay out their own course. McGinley done the best job ever of this. Narrow fairways, thick rough, lots of run-offs the greens. US just did the same this time. Huge fairways for their big hitters to let loose on. Also why Rory done so well also.
Unfortunately Darren let personal friendships get in the way cold calculated decisions on his picks,I wouldn’t have Lee Westwood in my Sun fourball.
Did well James, that’s why Rory did well.
@David Hanlon: how Knox never made the team is a joke…….world ranked 47 gets picked ahead of him & he’s at 19…..make no sense…
Rose is right. When you’re well up going into the final days singles and it’s set up with easy pins it leaves very few opportunities to force mistakes from the leading team. I thought they were easy pins.
They were easy pins but stupid of Rose to complain. It’s just one of several advantages the home team gets and which Europe will have in 2018.
I wondered how Sergio hit a 63 in the singles and only secured a half against big Phil! Two golfing gladiators all the same, providing great entertainment.
However, it’s the host’s prerogative as to pin positions on any Ryder Cup day. All part of the strategy to outfox the opponent, which the yanks did with aplomb.
Rose isn’t a sour grapes kinda guy; just telling it honestly as he saw it.
A USA win is good for the bi annual contest, given our treble success to 2014, and with their team members’ superior world rankings, US ran to form on this occasion.
Roll on Paris 18…
Justin..just bring your putter next time buddy and things will be fine!!
Too many Englishmen in the team. All 6 were defeated last night. Maybe the qualifying criteria needs to be looked at
According to world rankings Europe had 4 players better then 4 others. Alex noren Shane Lowry Russell Knox and Casey are all better ranked then Fitzpatrick Sullivan Westwood and kaymer
@Barry Newell: no issue with Fitzpatrick & Sullivan getting in but Westwood & Kaymer are not playing well enough at the moment…
If the pins were easy why did he not get more birdies ? Get over it Justin you lost fair and square.
Is it not the PGAs right as hosts to do as they see fit to help the US team? Also if the pins were easier then why didn’t Europe make more birdies. Needs to pipe down and except the loss. The US played well & majority of the Europe team didn’t turn (Westwood leading that pack).
Roll on France in 2 years. Bring back McGinley.
The English putted like a pro am
Paul McGinley openly admitted that he got gleneagles set up exactly like a European tour event in 2014 to suit his team. Oak hill was set up us open style in 1995 and the belfry once cut down their rough so that seve Ballesteros could play in the early 90s. Nothing new and complaining about it is sour grapes. Truth is you can’t lose a session 4-0 or carry passengers like Westwood if you expect to win.
Not sure of the logic here, if it was so easy why did he miss so many putts.
What a cry baby…let’s face it Europe were absolutely crap on the first day and that’s what caught them out. Likes it’s the pins fault the European players couldn’t play the game as well as the Americans.
He’s basically saying he can’t putt