You may be forgiven to think that Liverpool had won the Premier League title, last won in 1990. The Anfield faithful have been giddy with delight since the arrival of Jurgen Klopp as new manager of Liverpool.
The 6ft 4’’ German has forged a reputation across Europe as one of the brightest managers on the continent. Uber cool, suave, bespectacled, avuncular, tactically savvy and passionate, the German could literally charm the birds.
Not that the WAGs are not charmed, though. The listless, indifferent mood that had pervaded Anfield as the tenure of Brendan Rodgers petered into its final throes, has given way to the bright sunshine of Klopp’s coming.
In case you have been living under the rock, or on Planet Mars, Jurgen Klopp was formerly the manager of German club, Borussia Dortmund.
During his time at the Signal Iduna Park, he helped Die Schwarzgelben win back-to-back Bundesliga titles, the DFB Pokal Cup as well as getting to the final of the 2013 Champions League, claiming major scalps like Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax along the way.
And so, when in April of 2015, he announced that he was stepping down from the position at the end of the 2013/14 season after 7 years in charge, to embark on a sabbatical, many of Europe’s top clubs were alerted to his availability.
Indeed, his sabbatical lasted barely 6 months before he agreed a 3-year deal to become manager of Liverpool FC. The English Press, all eager to adulate about the Premier League’s new arrival, a new toy to be fawned over, went all mental and drolly about the suave German. Words and puns like Kloppmania, the Klopp effect, Gegenpress were regularly used to spice conversations and column inches regarding Liverpool’s new manager.
Many have even dared to predict that the Reds can challenge for the title with Klopp in charge of the Reds, such is the feel-good effect felt all over Anfield and even across England.
But before getting too carried away by utopian expectations of gargantuan proportions, it has to be said that Klopp has a lot of work on his hands to dispel the chaos and gloom that was the hallmark of predecessor, Brendan Rodgers.
Optimism, enthusiasm and graft alone cannot undo what was an untenable situation under the former Swansea manager. Fans have to be willing to give Jurgen Klopp time to implement his style and method in this team.
It must have been heartwarming for all true Reds to hear the German exude passion and readiness for the job; “Let’s start a new way. This is the perfect moment. I don’t know everything but I am a good listener. I will go to Melwood and see what works and what doesn’t.”
He continued, “We will try to play emotional football. All the world is talking about ball possession, but we have to have a plan for when we have the ball and when we don’t. It’s time to restart.”
And restart, this team has to, at least to bleed it of the bile built up during the final months of Rodgers’ reign. Hopes of a title tilt should be doused, even nicking a Champions League spot ahead of the likes of Spurs, Leicester, Manchester United and City as well as top-four masters, Arsenal, is quite a tall order.
A cup triumph, say the League or FA Cup, would be a rich harvest, a tidy return for what at some point this season, looked a lost cause even by the Reds’ recent mediocre standards. After all said so far, the signs are encouraging.
