The moment Liverpool fans had been dreading has finally come. On May 19, Jurgen Klopp took charge of his final game as the Reds manager. In his nine years at Anfield, the legendary German has won the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups.
A celebration of his time at Anfield wouldn’t be complete without looking at some of the best players he’s managed as Liverpool’s manager.
Jurgen Klopp’s Top Ten Liverpool Players
10. Divock Origi
Divock Origi wasn’t the most gifted player Klopp managed, he wasn’t the hardest working, he didn’t score the most goals, and he fell so far out of favour that he was sent on loan to Wolfsburg in 2017. So how has the Belgian found himself in a list of the Germans’s best players?
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The answer is his knack for scoring last-minute winners. Without Origi, Liverpool wouldn’t have won the Champions League, he scored two goals in the famous 4-0 semi-final win over Barcelona and then in true cult hero fashion, scored in the final against Tottenham without completing a dribble.
The striker also scored late winners against Newcastle, Wolves, and rivals Everton to further cement himself as a player that the coach could rely on late in games.
9. James Milner
Like the previous entry, James Milner was already at Anfield when Klopp was named manager. His versatility, leadership, and longevity meant he didn’t leave the club until last summer aged 37. The veteran was a key part of the team that reached the 2017/18 Champions League final, his eight assists were the best in the competition.
As he got older, his role slowly diminished. However, he still had moments where he showed his importance to the side’s success. A rallying cry to the team following elimination from the Champions League in 2020 was followed up by an athletic overhead kick goal-line clearance against Bournemouth that defied his age.
The way Liverpool quickly collapsed in this year’s title race was a reminder of the importance of Milner’s leadership to the team. The manager had reportedly wanted to offer the midfielder a new contract but the Reds’ board went in a different direction.
8. Roberto Firmino
Roberto Firmino was lost at Liverpool when the German manager arrived. He had only started three games under Brendan Rodgers, who forced the striker to play on the right wing to accommodate Christian Benteke. The Brazilian was perfect for his new manager’s high-pressing style and quickly became one of the Reds’ most important players.
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It was a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City in November 2015 which announced Firmino as Klopp’s perfect striker. His intense pressure caused chaos in the Citizen’s defence and the Brazilian scored his first Liverpool goal. The 32-year-old would go on to have trademark appearances against Roma (four goal contributions in a 5-2 win), Arsenal (a hat-trick in a 5-1 win), and Leicester (two goals in a 4-0 away win).
Firmino was vital for the way his coach wanted to play. His unselfishness allowed Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to become the stars they are. The Brazilian is perhaps the most underrated player in the German’s tenure in Merseyside.
7. Jordan Henderson
He didn’t leave under the best circumstances, but leaving the captain off a list of the best players would be hard. Jordan Henderson became a legend at Anfield by leading Liverpool to their first Premier League title.
The former Sunderland player rose into the leadership vacancy left behind by Steven Gerrard to become the Reds’ most successful captain in the Premier League era. Henderson wasn’t just a leader, he won the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2019/20 and England’s Senior Men’s Player of the Year in 2019.
As was mentioned with Milner previously, the absence of his leadership probably had something to do with Liverpool’s collapse in this season’s title race.
6. Andy Robertson
One-half of the most feared full-back duo in world football at its peak, Andy Robertson is a complete full-back and the perfect Klopp player.
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The Scotsman’s hard-working displays earned him the hearts of Liverpool fans. Robertson had finesse alongside his engine and has registered more than 10 assists three times in the league.
Klopp’s departure may signal the end for the Scottish international as a key player at Anfield but he has built a legacy to be proud of in Merseyside.
5. Sadio Mane
Perhaps Liverpool’s most important player during their title-winning season, Sadio Mane had a knack for scoring crucial goals.
The Senegalese winger’s double in the Champion League Round of 16 against Bayern Munich in 2019 announced him as one of the best wingers in the world. He also scored a goal against Manchester City in the 2022 FA Cup Semi-Final that capped off an excellent team move.
Mane was one-third of an attacking trio that epitomized everything Klopp wanted in his Liverpool team. His goal output was elite every term and hasn’t been replaced since his departure in 2022.
4. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold was a little-known 17-year-old when Klopp took charge at Anfield. As the German’s reign comes to a close, the now 25-year-old has won everything possible in club football.
The English right-back benefited massively from the faith the manager shows in young players, quickly becoming a key part of the side when Nathaniel Clyne’s injury saw him given first-team minutes.
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Alexander-Arnold’s quickly taken corner to Origi is one of the most iconic moments in Liverpool history. Trademark free-kicks against Leicester City, Hoffenheim, and Fulham have also cemented the full-back as one of the most exciting defenders in the world.
The 25-year-old had a fantastic career under Klopp and should continue to shine under a new manager, possibly in a new role.
3. Alisson
The defensive improvement Liverpool showed during Alisson’s first season at Anfield was a prime example of the Brazilian’s impact on their success.
The Reds conceded a goal per game with Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet in goal during the 2017/18 campaign. Alisson conceded just 22 league goals in his debut term as Liverpool instantly became title challengers.
The Brazilian’s consistency over the next six seasons has helped Klopp become one of the most successful Liverpool managers ever.
2. Mo Salah
Since signing in the summer of 2017, Salah has shown an out-of-this-world level of consistency.
The Egyptian has scored at least 18 goals in each of his seven seasons at Anfield. His 32 goals during his debut term in Merseyside was a Premier League record until Erling Haaland reached 36 last year.
Salah’s fine form in 2018 saw him finish third in The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award. Even when Liverpool have struggled, the Egyptian has dragged them back towards the elite.
If this campaign happens to be Salah’s last in a red shirt, he will leave as Liverpool’s fifth-highest goal scorer and a club legend.
1. Virgil Van Dijk
The signing of Virgil Van Dijk in January 2018 catapulted Liverpool into one of Europe’s most feared sides.
The Dutchman brought defensive solidarity to Klopp’s rock-and-roll Reds. He led Liverpool to the Champions League final as their defensive anchor in his first five months at the club.
In 2018/19 the Reds conceded just 22 goals in the Premier League as Van Dijk reached the peak of his powers. Liverpool’s number 4’s brilliance saw him finish second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or. A cruel ACL injury he suffered against Everton in October 2020 didn’t stop the 32-year-old from becoming a legend and current captain at Anfield.
