As Jurgen Klopp prepares to step down as Liverpool manager, his legacy at Anfield is secure, marked by a glittering array of trophies and unforgettable moments.
Klopp’s nine-year tenure has seen Liverpool win the Champions League, the FA Cup, and end a 30-year wait for a Premier League title. However, as he jokingly reflects on his time with the Reds, one bittersweet memory stands out: the 2018/2019 Premier League season.
In a candid interview with The Redmen TV, Klopp humorously recounted how Brendan Rodgers, James Maddison, and Leicester City indirectly thwarted his quest for a second Premier League title. The memory harks back to a dramatic season finale when Liverpool and Manchester City were locked in a fierce battle for the title.
Heading into the final week of the 2018/2019 season, Liverpool were atop the Premier League table. However, Manchester City had a game in hand against Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium. The tension was palpable, with Klopp and Liverpool fans keenly watching the match, hoping for a Leicester upset that could hand Liverpool the advantage.
Leicester, managed by former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, held Manchester City at bay for 70 minutes. The Foxes even had a golden opportunity to equalie through Kelechi Iheanacho late in the game. But it was Vincent Kompany’s stunning long-range strike that broke the deadlock, securing a crucial 1-0 victory for City.
Jurgen Klopp remembers that crucial Manchester City win over Leicester
This win allowed City to maintain their momentum and ultimately clinch the title on the final weekend.
Klopp humorously recalled his emotional turmoil during that match: “The moment when Vincent Kompany fires the ball there, I am really happy I didn’t get a stroke in that moment. That’s how it must feel. I remember exactly how I was lying on the sofa. I was watching and thinking: ‘Maddison, Maddison, block him, close him down!’ Since then I don’t like Maddison.”
The jesting tone of Klopp’s reflection belies the intense emotions of that period. Despite Liverpool amassing a remarkable 97 points that season, they finished second to Manchester City by just one point. The missed opportunity for a second league title remains a poignant chapter in Klopp’s otherwise illustrious reign.