No One Can Beat Klopp. But Reds Can Still Go From Strength to Strength

Jan 26, 2024

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I’ve given my initial reactions on the TTT Main Hub, but wanted to add some additional thoughts now that the news has sunk in.

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Klopp Leaving This Summer. Holy Cow 😱

So, a nice easy Friday morning. Just about to make a coffee. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKING FUCK?! 😱 I was only thinking the other day about how Pep Lijnders may want to replace Jürgen Klopp, but feeling unsure if he’s ready. Then, Klopp is going at the end of the season, with Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, as well as elite development coach Vitor Matos…

a year ago · 47 likes · 160 comments · Paul Tomkins

Unless a leak was in the offing, the timings suggest plans are afoot.

Nine years of Jürgen Klopp is a blessing.

But this would be a summer of change anyway (in terms of needing a new Director of Football), and after a chance to refocus and go out with a bang, Liverpool can make a change from a position of strength and optimism; after all, Klopp is bequeathing Liverpool 2.0.

And Liverpool 2.0, at the very least, look set to be in next year’s Champions League, and possibly as Premier League champions.

Always go out at the top, if you can. And leave a legacy. He appears to be doing that. He told the club in November, so there has to be a good reason to announce it now.

Exactly a year ago he looked tired and arguably stale (the team was old and slow), but he roared back with a younger team, and this season it’s an even fresher, younger side. He can go out at the top.

Jörg Schmadtke is also going; not unexpected, given he was brought in to work with Klopp, but it ties in with a full revamp. Even Mo Salah is at a crossroads.

It’s a chance to get in an elite younger manager to work with a new Director of Football (who could possibly be one of the Reds’ two recent ex-DoFs?), and I know who that manager would ideally be (as I’ll explain in detail below), even if there is more than one candidate.

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