Jadon Sancho has labelled Jurgen Klopp a ‘legend’ a few days after the German’s defence of the winger emerged in the media.
The 23-cap England international left Manchester United on loan this summer, signing for Chelsea on a season-long deal with an obligation to make it a permanent move for £25million.
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Sancho appears to have a lot of love for KloppCredit: Getty
Klopp left Man United’s fierce rivals Liverpool at the end of the season, but took charge of him and Sancho’s former club, Borussia Dortmund, on Saturday for Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Blaszczykowski’s testimonial.
Commenting on a video of Klopp soaking in the love from the Yellow Wall, Sancho said: “Legend!”
Earlier this week, the German was revealed to have publicly disagreed with Man United’s handling of the 24-year-old.
Speaking about Sancho’s situation before his move to Stamford Bridge, Klopp said: “If the whole world loses trust and faith in the player, the manager has to be the one behind the player.
“I cannot just buy into that ‘he’s useless,’ like other clubs did by the way – buying a player for £80million and then sending him out on loan!”
And Sancho’s latest comment appears to suggest he appreciated Klopp’s take.
Sancho’s move to Chelsea has put an end to his difficulties with his parent club after his very public falling out with manager Erik ten Hag last campaign left the pair’s relationship in tatters.
After being cast out of Ten Hag’s plans, Sancho sealed a loan move back to former club Dortmund.
He then returned to Manchester this summer.
The Dutchman has stated there is no longer an issue between him and the player.
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Sancho left this comment under Dortmund’s video of Klopp on InstagramCredit: Instagram:@BVB09
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Sancho joined United from Dortmund in 2021 for £73million – but he never hit the heights he or the club had hoped he wouldCredit: Getty
However, Sancho was then left out of the first team match day squads, before he sealed his switch to west London.
talkSPORT reported he could have been part of a potential swap deal with Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling.
However, his former England teammate signed for Arsenal on loan instead.
Emma Hayes Reveals How Her Career Would Be Different If She Was Paid Jurgen Klopp’s Wages!
Sancho is yet to play for Chelsea, but the Blues return to action on Saturday away at Bournemouth.
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Jurgen Klopp appeared to take a subtle dig at Manchester United and Erik ten Hag’s handling over Jadon Sancho before the winger’s move to Chelsea.
The 24-year-old was subject of speculation over his future this summer after returning to Old Trafford from a successful loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, where he helped them reach the Champions League final.
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Jadon Sancho appears to have played his last game for Manchester United after securing a season-long loan to ChelseaCredit: Getty
Sancho criticised Ten Hag and his reasons for leaving him out of the clash at the Emirates and was later forced to train alone before being brought back into the fold this summer after the pair aired out their differences.
Fans were initially hopeful the pair’s reconciliation drew a line under the conflict but a deadline day move to Chelsea appears to have confirmed that their working relationship was untenable.
Chelsea’s loan swoop included an obligation to buy the winger meaning his ill-fated spell at Old Trafford is all-but over.
Sancho has only been able to show flashes of his ability at Manchester United – but speaking at an event following the end of his Liverpool career – Klopp appeared to make reference to the lack of support offered to the player at Old Trafford.
“If the whole world loses trust and faith in the player, the manager has to be the one behind the player,” Klopp said prior to Sancho’s move to west London.
“I cannot just buy into that ‘he’s useless,’ like other clubs did by the way – buying a player for £80million and then sending him out on loan!”
His comments, which were perceived as a dig at Man United and Ten Hag, have since resurfaced after Sancho was sent on loan once again.
The England international netted 12 goals in 83 games for the Red Devils after sealing a switch from Borussia Dortmund in 2021.
His Old Trafford struggles saw him lose his place in the England squad, his last game for the Three lions coming in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra in October 2021.
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Ten Hag and Sancho were unable to resurrect their relationship after a public fallout last SeptemberCredit: Getty
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Jurgen Klopp has blasted United and Ten Hag for not standing by SanchoCredit: AFP
Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth cited the depth of their attacking options as the reason why the club offered Sancho an escape route.
The additions of Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee alongside Marcus Rashford, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo were considered sufficient options for the Dutchman, meaning Sancho was likely to receive reduced game time.
Ashworth told Sky Sports : “I think with any player, whether it’s Jadon, whether it’s Scott [McTominay] or whether it’s Aaron [Wan-Bissaka], if there’s a preference that they would like to move and go to a new club and it’s right for them and it’s right for us, then you have to explore it.
Flex pleads with Manchester United to sell Jadon Sancho insisting he is at his highest possible value
“We felt we had enough depth in that particular position to be able to cover it, we’ve got four really good wide players, Jadon was a fifth, and it just enabled us to make that decision. If it was good for him and good for us it was something we were willing to consider.”
Luis Diaz starred as Liverpool routed arch rivals Manchester United 3-0 to extend their perfect start under new boss Arne Slot, while Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs tasted defeated against Newcastle.
Hired from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp in the close-season, Slot has overseen three successive wins in a flying start to the new era at Liverpool.
The Reds sit second in the Premier League, behind champions Manchester City on goals scored, after handing United an embarrassing loss that finished with thousands of empty seats at Old Trafford.
Diaz and Mohamed Salah were United’s chief tormentors as the Liverpool forwards tore Erik ten Hag’s side to pieces with their pace and predatory finishing.
Diaz put Liverpool ahead with a 35th-minute header from Salah’s cross after United midfielder Casemiro carelessly conceded possession.
Casemiro was guilty of surrendering the ball too easily again when Diaz converted another Salah assist with a cool finish seven minutes later.
EPL Wrap: Another Haaland hat-trick! | 01:58
Salah put the result beyond doubt in the 52nd minute, netting for the third time this season with a fierce strike from Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass.
Slot is the first permanent Liverpool manager to win his first league game against United since Bob Paisley in 1975.
The Dutchman is also the first manager to win each of his first three Premier League games without conceding a single goal since Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City in 2007.
“If you go to Old Trafford we know there will be tough moments. After scoring a great goal which was disallowed we kept on playing as we were before. A deserved win I think,” Slot said.
The only potential issue for Slot was Salah’s post-match revelation that this could be his last season at Anfield.
“I had a good summer, I had a long time just to stay with myself and try to think positive because as you know it’s my last year in the club,” he said.
“I don’t want to think about it but I just feel I’m free to play football and we’ll see what can happen next year.”
United boss Ten Hag is under pressure after a woeful display that came hot on the heels of their 2-1 defeat at Brighton last weekend.
Gary Neville said after the defeat that it was a “sobering” day for Manchester United who was “absolutely mauled”, while Jamie Carragher said ten Hag wouldn’t be in charge at the end of the season.
“Yeah, it’s early days after three games. But I’d be surprised if he was still in charge at the end of the season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Roy Keane said of United: “They were absolutely shocking.
Manchester Untied was destroyed by Liverpool.Source: Getty Images
“Every time Liverpool went forward, they looked like they were going to score.
“There’s been a lot of PR the last few months about plans for the stadium. But in a big game today against Liverpool, United didn’t turn up.
“For a game like this to be over after an hour, it’s hard to accept.”
Ten Hag survived a close-season review into his job, which including United speaking to former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel about potentially replacing him.
But while last season’s surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City saved his job, he cannot afford another poor league campaign after finishing eighth in 2023/24.
“It’s quite simple. It was equal after half an hour then we made two big mistakes and Liverpool took them really well,” Ten Hag said.
“We will be fine. We have to improve, we know that. Today we have to take this but we will bounce back.”
– MARESCA FUMES –
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have won only once in the first three league games of the Italian’s reign after a chaotic close-season.
Beaten by Manchester City on the opening weekend, Chelsea powered to a 6-2 win at Wolves last weekend before scraping into the Conference League group stage after a 2-1 loss at Servette on Thursday.
Chelsea failed to kill off Palace after Noni Madueke picked out Cole Palmer and his pass was slotted home by Nicolas Jackson in the 25th minute.
Maresca was furious after Palace midfielder Will Hughes avoided a second yellow card for a foul on Palmer.
Palace made the most of that escape to drew level in the 53rd minute when England midfielder Eberechi Eze unfurled a superb curling finish from 20 yards.
“If they had been with 10 I think the game would have completely changed,” Maresca said of the Hughes incident.
“It was clear for all of us it was a second yellow card. The only one that thinks in a different way is the referee.”
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have won only once in the first three league games of the Italian’s reign after a chaotic close-season.Source: AFP
ANGE’S SPURS LOSE LATE
At St James’ Park, Newcastle punished profligate Tottenham with a 2-1 victory.
Harvey Barnes put Newcastle ahead and Dan Burn’s own goal drew Tottenham level before Alexander Isak’s 78th-minute winner.
Unbeaten Newcastle’s second win in three league games condemned Tottenham to a first defeat this term.
“It’s massive, isn’t it?” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said. “You need to win at any stage but I think when there’s difficult moments — and this transfer window has been tough for us — then it’s even more important.”
Liverpool’s perfect start to life under Arne Slot has continued with a solid victory over Brentford, with two key attackers getting their names on the score sheet.
However, the new boss has made no assurances the club’s big-name stars will be retained beyond this season.
Elsewhere, a Chelsea star quickly deleted his foul-mouthed criticism of Wolverhampton before slotting a hattrick past the Wolves.
Newcastle, meanwhile, were lucky to come away from the Vitality Stadium with a draw.
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LIVERPOOL’S PERFECT START UNDER SLOT AMID VAN DIJK DOUBTS
Arne Slot enjoyed a winning bow as Liverpool boss at Anfield with Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scoring in a 2-0 win over Brentford on Sunday.
The Reds join Manchester City, Arsenal and Brighton as the only sides with maximum points from two games of the new Premier League season.
Tougher tests lie ahead of Slot in his daunting task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp, starting with a visit to Manchester United next weekend.
But the early signs are positive for the Dutchman as his side are yet to concede and showcased their wealth of attacking options, spearheaded by Salah.
Slot is expected to instill a more possession-focused approach than the one adopted by Klopp in his near nine years in charge.
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, interacts with Harvey Elliott of Liverpool after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield on August 25, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, Liverpool’s opener was straight out of the Klopp copybook. From a Brentford corner, Salah released Diogo Jota, who timed his pass perfectly into Diaz to charge through on goal and fire into the top corner on 13 minutes.
Thereafter there were only flashes of the football Slot is hoping to bring in the first half.
Brentford were again missing Ivan Toney, who is expected to leave the club before Friday’s transfer deadline.
But the Bees still posed a threat without the England striker and should have levelled 10 minutes into the second half.
Nathan Collins met Mathias Jensen’s enticing cross with a bullet header that Alisson Becker did brilliantly to parry.
That warning awoke Liverpool from their slumber early in the second period. Collins made a goal-saving block moments later to deny Jota turning in Alexander-Arnold’s low cross.
Vitaly Janelt was next to get a vital foot in to prevent Salah rounding off a slick team move.
Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken then produced a brilliant stop to turn Diaz’s powerful effort behind.
As is so often the case, the Reds had to turn to Salah to provide the clinical finish to finally make the points safe.
The impressive Diaz this time bagged the assist and the Egyptian managed to time his run perfectly to remain onside and dink the ball over Flekken.
Meanwhile, captain Virgil van Dijk said his focus is on leading the Reds’ transition under their new manager this season despite doubt over his future at Anfield.
The Dutch centre-back has less than a year remaining on his contract with no signs of an immediate agreement on a new deal.
Van Dijk has been fundamental to Liverpool’s success since joining for a then world record £75 million ($99 million) fee for a defender in January 2018.
“I’m very calm,” van Dijk told Sky Sports.
Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool interacts with Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield on August 25, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I want to be important and stay important for the club. What happens? Let’s see, but I’m very calm about my situation. There’s no reason for me to think about something else because I have the whole season to play.”
Van Dijk has won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups during his time at Liverpool.
The 33-year-old is expected to be vital to helping his compatriot Slot instill his ideas as he faces the daunting task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp.
“Whatever happens now, Anfield has a special place in my heart. And it’s been successful. Let’s see what happens,” added van Dijk.
“Playing for Liverpool, one of the most if not the most successful club in the world. It feels great to wear the shirt.
“But there’s so much for the club to improve on, for myself and the team, let’s see what (the season) it brings.”
Slot was serenaded in the closing stages by the 60,000 crowd chanting his name – as they had been instructed to do by Klopp at his farewell in May.
Van Dijk isn’t the only big-name player potentially playing for their future at Anfield, with Slot revealing no one is a certainty to earn new contracts.
“If we bring the best out of them, and they perform really well, then it’s up to them if they want to sign, it’s up to us [the club] if we give them a new contract.”
Van Dijk, alongside Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the players with contracts that expire at the end of the season.
Madueke hat-trick sinks Wolves | 00:33
MADUEKE CAUGHT OUT
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke apologised for his foul-mouthed criticism of Wolverhampton after responding to the controversy with a hat-trick in Sunday’s 6-2 victory at Molineux.
Madueke posted and then deleted a critical opinion about Wolverhampton just hours before playing in the city, whose industrial heritage includes coal mining and steel production.
Madueke shared his location, which was Wolverhampton, in the post, which read “this place is s**t”.
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke’s accidental social media post.Source: FOX SPORTS
The 22-year-old later shared: “Damn wrong Instagram account. You lot are too fast.” Madueke was booed by Wolves fans but he silenced his tormentors with a treble and then said sorry for his social media faux pas.
“I just want to apologise to everyone that I might have offended. It is just a human mistake, an accident. It wasn’t meant to be out on my socials like that. I’m sure Wolverhampton is a nice town and I’m sorry,” he said.
“In terms of the boos I expected it but it is part of the game. You have to be able to play under that sort of pressure.” Madueke’s hat-trick was aided by three assists from Cole Palmer. Palmer has been nicknamed ‘cold’ for his ice-cool approach to finishing, especially from the penalty spot.
Chelsea winger Noni Madueke quickly deleted his post.Source: FOX SPORTS
Madueke said his more emotional style of play made them the perfect combination.
“It is unbelievable. He is cold and I am fire so it mixes well. He has the ability to always play a pass at the right time,” he said.
“I like to get the ball in space, beat people and make things happen, so luckily today it worked.
“The first one was a bit lucky. Second one was all Cole, two brilliant passes. I’m made up for the hat-trick but more made up we won the game.” Madueke’s treble inspired Chelsea’s first Premier League win under new boss Enzo Maresca.
Beaten by Manchester City in their league opener last weekend, Chelsea beat Servette in a UEFA Conference League playoff on Thursday, with Madueke on the scoresheet against the Swiss side before his demolition job at Molineux.
“Everyone saw what he did at Leicester last year, he is mad about the details,” Madueke said of Maresca’s promotion-winning campaign with Leicester.
“Even in the first game against City there were some nice patterns of play but we just couldn’t finish it off. It is a great day today, I am happy he has got his first Premier League win for Chelsea.” Showing the attention to detail that Madueke referenced, Maresca praised his winger’s contribution but still found one small fault.
“In the first 10 minutes he had two chances and overall he was very good. The only thing I didn’t like from Noni is the free-kick he gave away before halftime and we can avoid that, especially against a team who are good from set pieces,” he said.
“In the first 10 minutes we created two or three chances and scored a goal and then we started to lose the ball, but overall a good performance.
“Absolutely there always things we can improve on. We can learn many things.”
Gundogan set to return to Man City? | 01:06
CONTROVERSY AT THE VITALITY STADIUM
At the Vitality Stadium, Newcastle rescued a controversial 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
Newcastle trailed when Joelinton carelessly lost possession and Antoine Semenyo’s low cross was touched in by Marcus Tavernier in the 37th minute.
Eddie Howe’s team equalised in the 76th minute as Harvey Barnes floated in a cross that Anthony Gordon slotted home from close range.
Bournemouth were furious to be denied a stoppage-time winner when VAR ruled Dango Ouattara had handled before heading in.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said: “It’s very difficult to digest. It’s obvious what happened. We should have won the game.
“The ball touched his shoulder. The referee could not do anything else, someone call him and said he have to disallow it. No-one will remember this in two weeks. I’m very frustrated.”
Arne Slot made the perfect start to his Liverpool reign with a 2-0 win at Ipswich, while Arsenal dispatched Wolves 2-0 to begin their Premier League title challenge in style on Saturday.
Newcastle defied an early red card for Fabian Schar to edge past Southampton 1-0, while Brighton ran riot under new manager Fabian Hurzeler in a 3-0 victory at Everton.
Aston Villa spoiled Julen Lopetegui’s first game in charge of West Ham with a 2-1 win at the London Stadium.
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Slot has huge shoes to fill at Anfield after the departure of Jurgen Klopp, who restored the Reds to the top of the English game.
The Dutchman was left less than impressed by his side’s first 45 minutes at Portman Road as Ipswich flew out of the traps on their return to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
However, Liverpool were a different side after the break as goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah barely reflected their dominance to get Slot off to the perfect start.
“We as a team made a big change at halftime because we came out totally different to how we had come out in the first half,” said the former Feyenoord boss.
“Second half, we won more duels, we won more second balls and we played more balls in behind because if the other team takes the risk of playing one-v-one and you have the likes of Luis Diaz, Mo Salah and Diogo Jota then use them, play the balls in behind.”
Arsenal have finished second to Manchester City in each of the past two seasons and are highly-fancied to be the champions’ closest challengers again.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring at the Emirates from Bukayo Saka’s cross to reward the Gunners’ early dominance.
However, Mikel Arteta’s men needed a vital save from David Raya to deny Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha missed a huge chance to level before Arsenal made the points safe.
The roles from the first goal were reversed as this time Havertz teed up Saka to lash home.
“We generated a lot. We probably we should have scored two or three in the first half. Second half we became a bit sloppy, then the game was a bit more open. But Bukayo had an unbelievable action to score the second,” Arteta said.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Newcastle’s hopes of a winning start to the season looked to have been undone when Schar was sent off after just 28 minutes for what the referee deemed a headbutt on Ben Brereton Diaz despite limited contact between the pair.
Southampton had dominated even the early exchanges against the Magpies’ full compliment but failed to convert from 19 shots and nearly 80 per cent possession.
By contrast, Newcastle were clinical as Alexander Isak teed up Joelinton for the only goal just before halftime.
Everton’s final season at Goodison Park got off to a nightmare start as 31-year-old Hurzeler enjoyed a dream start to life in the Premier League.
Kaoru Mitoma fired Brighton in front on his return from injury that saw the Japanese international miss much of last season.
Danny Welbeck added a second after the break and Everton were reduced to 10 men when Ashley Young saw red before Simon Adingra made it 3-0 late on.
Antoine Semenyo stepped into the void left at Bournemouth by the departure of Dominic Solanke with a late equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.
In East London, former Wolves boss Lopetegui suffered a disappointing return to the Premier League.
Villa, who finished fourth last season, took the lead through Amadou Onana’s fourth minute goal.
Although Lucas Paqueta equalised with a 37th minute penalty, Jhon Duran stole the points with a clinical finish in the 79th minute.
City begin their defence of the title in the standout fixture of the weekend at Chelsea on Sunday.
Manchester United got their campaign off to a winning start on Friday when debutant Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to grab a late winner in a 1-0 victory over Fulham.
Mohamed Salah has shown no signs of slowing down as he set the standard in Liverpool’s gruelling pre-season fitness tests.
The Arne Slot era at Anfield looks to be in full swing as the new manager and his coaching staff kicked things off by introducing a new test of their players’ endurance.
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The Egyptian King seems to be in phenomenal shape as he gears up for another season in Liverpool’s front lineCredit: Getty
Fans will have grown used to the infamous lactate test favoured by former boss Jurgen Klopp at the start of each pre-season, which was routinely won by veteran ex-Red James Milner.
But the departure of both over the past 12 months had left an opening for a new fitness king to be crowned at Liverpool.
And that gap appears to have now been filled, after star forward Salah reportedly shone in the new six-minute race test (6MRT) favoured by Slot and his team.
In the drill, players are required to cover as much ground as possible during six minutes of running around a 400m race track.
According to The Athletic, the Egypt captain, who returned to training last week just days after the first set of Reds players, knocked other standout performer Sepp van den Berg off the top of the leaderboard.
Dutch defender van den Berg, who spent last season on loan at Bundesliga side Mainz and has been linked with an exit this summer, initially set the benchmark, before Salah then recorded the furthest distance covered out of the entire team.
The 32-year-old’s impressive physical condition was hailed by fitness coach Conall Murtagh, who is quoted as calling him ‘phenomenal’.
Salah took on the gruelling test alongside teammate Wataru Endo, with the pair returning together following their involvement in international matches for Egypt and Japan.
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Former Red James Milner was the undisputed running king throughout his eight years on MerseysideCredit: Getty
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Salah will be in new boss Arne Slot’s good books after topping the club’s running chartsCredit: Getty
Murtagh had urged the experienced duo: “It’s important to show your mentality. Show the lads how it’s done as leaders in the group.”
The forward’s strong start on the training pitch will please both Slot and the Reds’ faithful, with it arguably displaying his intent for the coming season, despite being yet to sign a new deal at the club.
Liverpool legend John Barnes reveals he turned down Real Madrid to stay at Anfield
Salah is one of three key players still to agree new terms on a contract that expires next summer, alongside players Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
In the meantime, the wing wizard will join the Reds’ squad in jetting off to the US for their pre-season tour on July 26, where they will face Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Betis.
Manager Slot will be relying on the experience of the likes of Salah during this trip, with a number of senior figures set to miss out on the tour due to their involvement in the latter stages of the European Championship and Copa America respectively.
With many of Liverpool’s stars yet to take on the dreaded fitness test, it remains to be seen whether Salah will make it to the end of summer still at the top of the leaderboard.
Jurgen Klopp has continued his ties with Liverpool after accepting to become honorary ambassador for the club’s charity, the LFC Foundation.
Klopp brought the curtain down on his nine-year tenure as Liverpool boss in May having guided the Reds to the Premier League title, Champions League and FA Cup.
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Klopp will take up a new position with the LFC FoundationCredit: Getty
Dutchman Arne Slot was brought in to replace the German ahead of the coming season with Klopp deciding to take a well-earned sabbatical from football.
Although no longer a part of the management team at Anfield, Liverpool are keen to maintain links with Klopp who was an advocate of the LFC Foundation during his time at the club.
He was involved in a number of events in support of the charity, including meet and greets at the club’s training ground and attending events to raise funds.
Speaking about his new role, Klopp said: “The LFC Foundation does an incredible job in the community, both in the Liverpool city region and beyond.
“I’m really proud to continue my work with them and be named the first-ever LFC Foundation honorary ambassador. “I look forward to seeing what we can do with that now that I have more time on my hands.”
Matt Parish, CEO of the LFC Foundation, expressed his happiness at Klopp’s continuing link to the Merseyside club.
“We’re delighted Jurgen is continuing his support of the Foundation as our first honorary ambassador,” he said.
“Having his support has been priceless for us over the years and to have that continue is fantastic and highlights his commitment to the Foundation and the work that we continue to do across the Liverpool city region.
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Klopp led Liverpool to their sixth Champions League success in 2019Credit: getty
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Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson sat in the iconic Anfield dugout, after an invitation from Liverpool for their charity match against Ajax in MarchCredit: Getty
“Jurgen’s love and passion for the city has been clear throughout his time at the club and it can only benefit us having his support and his voice championing the work that we do moving forward.”
The LFC Foundation has provided over £65million in health benefits and delivered in excess of £16m to the local economy.
German pundit and ex-Chelsea player Sebastian Kneissl discusses whether Jurgen Klopp would replace Gareth Southgate as England boss
Liverpool’s annual legends game also sees proceeds go to the Foundation with this year’s fixtures against Ajax – where former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was manager – raising a record amount of £1.2m.
The chances of Jurgen Klopp taking charge of the USA national team are ‘almost impossible’.
That’s the view of German football expert Constantin Eckner, who believes that the USMNT couldn’t afford the German boss.
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Klopp is highly unlikely to take the USA job, according to EcknerCredit: AFP
Klopp is enjoying some time away from football having just left Liverpool after eight and a half years at Anfield.
While saying that he’d like a break, the 57-year-old has been linked with the top job in US football with ex-Chelsea player Sebastian Kneissl discussing him as a candidate for the USA job.
But speaking on talkSPORT’s Euro GameDay Warm-Up, Eckner says that it’s likely to be a non-starter as he’d have to take a massive pay cut on the £15million-a-year he banked in his final Liverpool contract.
Asked if we’ll see Klopp in management again, Eckner said: “I don’t doubt it.
READ MORE ON JURGEN KLOPP
“I don’t believe he will be the United States national head coach though because it’s almost impossible.
“They introduced an equal pay policy last year and Emma Hayes – who is managing the United States women’s team – is receiving $2million a year which means that Klopp would also earn $2million per year.
“I don’t believe that’s an offer he will take.”
With England also potentially looking for a new head coach if Gareth Southgate leaves after Euro 2024, Eckner was then quizzed on whether Klopp could be a contender for the job.
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Klopp is mere weeks into his post-Liverpool life after leaving the club at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty
Asked how people in Germany would react if he took the job, Eckner added: “I think a lot of people would understand.
“Think about how many years he was at Liverpool – almost a decade – so when you’ve been there for a while you also embrace everything that you like about English football.
Brighton boss Fabian Hürzeler reveals the advice Jurgen Klopp gave him ahead of his new Premier League challenge
“Becoming the English national coach, I think a lot of people would be proud that a German represents the English FA and the Three Lions because it would be a first.”
Speaking ahead of his Liverpool exit, Klopp hinted that he may never manage again, saying: “If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say now no.
“But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation. What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible.
“My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There’s no chance to do that.
“But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around. I will find something else maybe to do.
“But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible, I cannot do that and I don’t want to.”
Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler has revealed he received key advice from Jurgen Klopp during a long phone call with the Liverpool icon.
Klopp – who led the Reds to numerous trophies including a Premier League and Champions League – ended his nine years at Anfield at the end of last season, with Arne Slot arriving as his replacement.
The club have since announced German manager Hurzeler will be taking the reins – and it turns out he got some ‘very important’ advice from his compatriot as part of his preparation for his new role.
He told talkSPORT: “Yeah, so I had a few calls with Germans who have worked before in the Premier League.
“One of them was Jurgen Klopp and he gave me very, very important advice. He was one of the most successful coaches in the Premier League.
“I asked him for the differences between the football in Germany and the football in England, about the culture, about the people, the media.
“All of the areas that are important for the coaches, so. He was very, very helpful.”
Klopp wasn’t the only one to offer some words of wisdom, either.
“Not only him but other coaches,” Hurzeler continued. “I made a lot of calls over the last weeks just to compare myself the best way I can for this big challenge.”
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Klopp passed on his wisdom in a lengthy phone callCredit: GETTY
But Jim White wanted to know more on what Klopp told him.
Hurzeler kept his cards close to his chest, though, smiling and saying: “Yeah of course he’s a big fan of the UK. We were having a long call and then afterwards he said ‘yeah, you might be ready’.
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“I’m really looking forward to it. I will have fun in the Premier League and I really love it and that’s the best thing for me. It was a great call.”
The 31-year-old will become the youngest manager in Premier League history when the season begins, with a few of his own players set to be older than him, including captain Lewis Dunk.
“So I call myself a friendly authority,” he said when asked how he plans to approach that. “My passion is football and I try to use the power of ideas to convince my players.
“I try to convince them by asking why you should do it and in the end my job from my team is to make every player valued, feel valued and to make every player better.
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Dunk will be older than his new bossCredit: Getty
“That’s my leading style.”
The former Bayern Munich youth player was at St Pauli for two years prior to his move to the AMAX.
The two sides play in similar ways, but Hurzeler says the Seagulls feel like the perfect fit for him for a whole host of reasons, including the club’s hierarchy.
He said: “Not many clubs in the world could convince me to leave St Pauli but Brighton was one of them and I had from the first second a really, really good feeling.
“All the atmosphere here and the facilities around me are amazing so I’m really looking forward to the next challenge.”
Arne Slot has is the Netherland’s most entertaining coach in 35 years and Liverpool fans are in for a treat.
Slot is now the Reds’ new head coach, replacing the long-serving Jurgen Klopp, who stepped down from his role at the end of last season.
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Slot is weeks away from his first match in charge at LiverpoolCredit: Getty
The 45-year-old arrives at Anfield with an exciting reputation having won the league and Dutch Cup with Feyenoord and is a coach who thinks like Pep Guardiola, according to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan, who has followed his career closely.
As well as his perfect communication skills, he told talkSPORT: “He’s also got very fresh ideas and maybe even excels [Erik] Ten Hag in his ideas of attacking football.
“He is closer in his thinking to Pep. I’m not saying he’s on the same level, I don’t want Liverpool fans to think, ‘Oh Marcel’s telling us we’re getting Pep 2.0.’
“But I’ve never seen a game of him where he played one minute defensive football, or where he wanted his team to defend something, it’s actually been mind blowing what he’s done in Holland.
“I’m not saying that he will be in England but in Holland, he’s the most entertaining coach I’ve seen over the last 35 years. I actually think that, apart from Pep of course in the same city, Arne Slot could be Erik ten Hag’s biggest rival when it comes to competing for places in the Champions League next season.”
Slot is set to rival his compatriot Ten Hag for a Premier League top four finish, with the latter already winning two trophies in as many seasons at United.
However, when talkSPORT host Jim White asked if Slot will be more successful at Liverpool than Ten Hag next season, Van der Kraan said: “Yes.
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Slot is highly-rated thanks to his success in his home countryCredit: Getty
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He could also be on course to enjoy more success than Ten Hag next seasonCredit: Getty
“His football… like [co-host Simon Jordan], I’m a fan of the 70’s, I loved Holland in the 70’s, 1974, 1988, Ruud Gullit, Arnold Muhren, you mentioned earlier in the break, the cross to [Marco] van Basten, we had great players.
“But they all wanted to play really Dutch, flowing football and this is what you want from coaches, that’s how you want them to play.
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“And if Arne Slot will do what he’s done so far in his career in the Netherlands, how he turned Feyenoord around from like a hard-working port workers’ club into a flowing football machine…
“What I wish, without being biased on Arne or Erik, I wish that Liverpool fans will get that because it will show a bit of colour for the Dutch again, what our coaches can do.”
