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Jurgen Klopp set for emotional Anfield return in Liverpool Legends clash

Liverpool supporters have been given a welcome reminder of the club’s rich recent past, with confirmation that Jurgen Klopp will once again walk out at Anfield later this year. While he is no longer in charge of the Reds, that chapter closed when he stepped down in May 2024, his connection with Liverpool remains strong, and this March it will be on show in front of a packed stadium for a special cause.

Since leaving Merseyside, Klopp has been at pains to insist that he was finished with the daily grind of elite management. He took up a senior role with Red Bull on 1 January 2025, explaining that he needed to recharge after nearly 25 years on the touchline. Even so, rumours have followed him everywhere, particularly after Xabi Alonso was dismissed by Real Madrid earlier this month. Klopp responded to those links with consistent denials, despite reports that he had “contacted” Trent Alexander-Arnold and that he “would give serious consideration” to any approach from the Spanish giants.

For Liverpool fans, however, the focus is far closer to home.

Liverpool confirmation brings clarity

Liverpool FC has officially confirmed that Jurgen Klopp will return to Anfield later this year. He will not be leading a rival club, but instead stepping into a familiar dugout for the Liverpool Legends charity match against Borussia Dortmund Legends.

The club’s statement made the purpose and the tone very clear. “Jürgen Klopp has joined the Liverpool FC Legends management team for the upcoming game against Borussia Dortmund Legends,” it read. “Klopp will return to the Anfield dugout to assist manager Sir Kenny Dalglish for the charity match, presented by AXA and in association with Forever Reds, on Saturday March 28 (3pm GMT kick-off).” It added that “Dalglish and Klopp will be joined on the touchline by LFC ambassador Ian Rush and Forever Reds chair John Aldridge.”

For a club that values its history as much as its present, that line up on the touchline feels like a roll call of Anfield royalty.

Anfield reunion carries deeper meaning

Klopp’s return comes at a time when Liverpool, now under Arne Slot, are writing a new chapter after winning the Premier League in 2024-25. Yet the German’s impact still looms large. From the European nights to the relentless pressing that defined his side, Klopp helped to shape modern Liverpool.

Seeing him back at Anfield, even in a Legends fixture, taps into that emotional connection. There is also a poetic edge to facing Borussia Dortmund, the club where Klopp first made his name on the continental stage before bringing that energy to Merseyside.

Charity match purpose goes beyond nostalgia

While nostalgia will be thick in the air, the match has a serious aim. One hundred percent of proceeds will support the LFC Foundation’s employability programmes, helping people across the Liverpool City Region find work, gain qualifications and develop new skills.

The cast of former players reinforces the sense that this is more than a friendly kickabout. Steven Gerrard, Samy Hyypia, Jerzey Dudek and Pepe Reina are already confirmed, with more to follow in the coming weeks. Their presence ensures that the contest will be competitive, even if the scoreline, whether it ends 2-1 or 3-2, is secondary to the cause.

For Klopp, it is a chance to reconnect with Liverpool and Anfield without the pressures that defined his managerial career. For supporters, it is an opportunity to celebrate a figure who left an indelible mark on the club.

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