Klopp’s Transformation of Liverpool: The Journey From Doubt to Dominance
Early Skepticism
When Jurgen Klopp arrived at Anfield nine years ago, he had a reputation for being a manager whose teams couldn’t handle finals. His first part-season in charge seemed to confirm that, with Liverpool losing two showpiece games with silverware on the line.
When the Reds were beaten by Manchester City on penalties in the League Cup and suffered a chastening defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League, there was a lot of smug comment to the effect, “Jurgen can’t get it done in finals.”

Klopp’s Impact and Liverpool’s Rise
Demonstrating Depth and Determination

Unforeseen Value of Wataru Endo

Future Prospects and Klopp’s Legacy

Aiming for Less Drama, More Victory
The last League Cup final against Chelsea was brilliant in many ways. It was a cracker considering it was a 0-0 draw. The penalty shoot-out was thrilling with a brilliant ending.
Yet, can we have a little less excitement this time, please, lads. I was thinking something like 3-0 to Liverpool after 10 minutes and then close the game down. Kill it. End any concept that football is entertaining.
Whenever we play Chelsea it’s inevitable that I think about 1986, the match that won us the title on the way to securing the Double. What always resonates with me is Steve Nicol talking about the team’s approach after Kenny Dalglish secured a decisive 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. “We strangled the game,” Nicol said. “Never gave them a chance. There wasn’t a shred of entertainment for the rest of the match.” Well, we entertained ourselves in the away end. Hugely.

The Essence of Liverpool’s Cup History
Reds and Blues were in mixed groups, many sporting “I support Liverpool City Council” stickers because the city’s politicians were facing down the Conservative government.At the height of Thatcherism, we showed the capital that we were together and of one Scouse mind – except for the duration of the match. Two years later the same mindset was in place at the FA Cup.
Heysel had not come between us 12 months after the nightmare of Brussels. I dread to think what a Wembley final against Everton would be like now.What do I remember about Bolton Wanderers in 1995? It was a lovefest. Everyone hated Manchester United. Birmingham City in Cardiff in 2001 was an underwhelming event on the way to an underwhelming treble of cups. Beating United two years later was tremendous. We’d landed too few blows on the bastards since spanking them at Wembley too decades earlier. Funnily enough, getting beat by Chelsea was the one defeat I find memorable and that wasn’t for the football. I recall standing almost pitchside before the match and turning to all sides of the stadium.Chelsea’s banners were all crosses of St George but our end was just red.
The End For The King
The Keep Flags Scouse movement was near its peak. Their end looked mass produced by the English Defence League. Ours was full of inventive – but red – classics. I remember thinking, as I left the ground, “well, they beat us, but at least we’re not them.” Beating Cardiff City on penalties 12 years ago was grim. It had become clear that FSG and Dalglish were going to part ways at the end of the season. Losing the King happened. Luckily, sane voices managed to convince Fenway how important it was for Dalglish to be involved with the club.
So to Chelsea and a potential tenth win. Some deride the cup competitions – except, of course, for the Champions League – but just thinking about these finals brings a plethora of memories back. I could write thousands of words about these games, the events around them and the people who lived through those days alongside me, quite a few of whom are no longer with us.And what’s most important about football? Identity. Memories. Shared experience.Sneer at cup competitions? Dismiss the finals? If you do, you don’t know what you’re missing.