It has been a year since Jurgen Klopp set foot in Anfield and the ‘Normal One’ has managed to turn his Liverpool team into one of the best in Premier League. The German has brought his aggressive “rock-and-roll” style of football from his Dortmund days and has managed to instill fear in his opponents.
This Liverpool outfit under Klopp has become a genuine title contender and excitement has returned to Anfield after a dour period under Brendan Rodgers.
Since the 49-year old has taken over at Liverpool, they have scored the maximum amount of goals in the Premier League, 73 goals in 37 games from 8th of October 2015 till date. Opponents are often left to wonder what hit them when the likes of Roberto Firmino, Phillipe Coutinho and Sadio Mane are on song.
Adam Lallana is enjoying his best period at Anfield under the German and it is a joy to watch this team play and the goals galore they put on show for the fans. On the occasion of Klopp’s one-year anniversary with the Reds, we take a look at five famous wins for Liverpool under their new manager:
#5 Arsenal 3-4 Liverpool – 14 August 2016
What a way to kick things off in a new season!
Klopp’s Liverpool were playing Arsenal in the first game of what would be their first full season under the German. And they did not disappoint. Arsenal took the lead through Theo Walcott, but Coutinho managed to equalize for the Reds from a wonderful 30-yard free-kick just before half-time.
After half-time though, Liverpool tore apart the Arsenal defence as they scored 3 goals in the space of 14 minutes, with Coutinho and Adam Lallana scoring, along with a brilliant solo effort by new signing Sadio Mane.
But some poor defending gave Arsenal a way back as they pulled back two goals to set up a grand finish on Matchday 1 of the 2016-17 season. However, Liverpool managed to hold on and claimed three points in what was a thrilling contest. It was later revealed by players that Klopp’s half-time dressing room speech had nudged them on to step up in the second half which they duly did.
#4 Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool – 31 October 2015
Three weeks into Klopp’s tenure at Anfield, the Reds headed to Stamford Bridge to face champions Chelsea who were under some pressure.
But 4 minutes into the game, Ramires headed into the net from close range. Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0. The home team were expected to take home all the points after taking an early lead, but Liverpool had other ideas.
The Merseysiders equalized on the verge of half-time as Coutinho, that man again, curled in a top-notch effort from the edge of the box. Klopp was celebrating on the touchlines while an unhappy Jose walked down the tunnel.
There were some nervy moments in the second period as Lucas escaped a second booking after taking down compatriot Ramires. But they hung on as Coutinho gave them the lead with 15 minutes to spare. Liverpool heaped further misery on the home team as Benteke scored a third in the 83rd minute.
Liverpool ran away comfortable winners giving Klopp his first Premier League victory as Liverpool manager.
#3 Manchester City 1-4 Liverpool – 21 November 2015
In many ways, this was the game where Klopp truly arrived. He took his Liverpool side to the Etihad Stadium and masterminded a thorough thrashing of Manchester City.
The Liverpool team had just one thing on their mind from the minute they took the field, ‘attack’. And attack they did, as they were up 3-0 within 31 minutes with goals coming from Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and an Eliaquim Mangala own-goal.
Aguero pulled one back for the Citizens who were left shell-shocked by some high tempo football by the Reds. Defender Martin Skrtel scored a fourth from a spectacularly hit half-volley putting the game to rest in the second half.
It was an attacking masterclass from the German’s players as they broke down the City defence with surprising ease. The Firmino-Coutinho partnership looked lethal as they had a huge effect on the game. The Jurgen Klopp-era had kicked off.
#2 Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United (3-1 on Aggregate) – 11 March 2016
Round-of-16, Europa League tie and Liverpool taking on their most bitter rivals Manchester United at Anfield. The occasion was set. The performance was needed. And the home team provided just that as they came out easy winners with goals from Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino.
It would have been much worse for United if not for the brilliant David de Gea in goal. The Spaniard made some outstanding saves to keep the Red Devils from utter humiliation.
But the performance would have pleased Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool showed signs of becoming the force he wanted them to be at Anfield. The Reds pressurised United into submission, they gave United no time on the ball, harrying them in possession and forcing them into making mistakes as they turned out to be too quick for a laborious Van Gaal’s side.
It was the first time these two clubs had met in a European fixture and Liverpool had given The Kop a reason to celebrate. Liverpool went on to seal the tie 3-1 on aggregate as they drew 1-1 away at Old Trafford in the second leg. The Reds made it all the way to the final of the Europa League but could not emerge victorious.
#1 Liverpool 4-3 Borussia Dortmund (5-4 on Aggregate) – 15 April 2016
There’s no argument about which match tops this list. 2-0 down in under 10 minutes, in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Liverpool’s task seemed next to impossible against Klopp’s former team Borussia Dortmund.
But Klopp and Liverpool staged one of the most dramatic comebacks ever witnessed at Anfield, scoring four second-half goals to snatch the victory in the dying moments. When Dejan Lovren bundled in James Milner’s cross, in injury-time, in front of the Kop, the entire arena erupted in joy and disbelief.
Dortmund had left Anfield shell-shocked with early goals from Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan. But the Reds slowly grew into the game as Divock Origi pulled one back early in the second half. But Marco Reus soon restored the two-goal margin with a cool finish.
Liverpool were left needing three goals with 25 minutes left. But the match was far from over yet. As Klopp said later, “You could feel it, hear it, smell it”. Coutinho made it two for the home side and Mamadou Sakho soon followed suit, burying a header past Weidenfeller in the 77th minute. And everybody knows what followed after.
The two teams put on a show that will be spoken about for ages to come. It took the fans back to that miraculous night in Istanbul when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down against AC Milan, to win the Champions League in 2005. It was a thrilling evening and the fans will hope there will be plenty more like that.
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