Is Jurgen Klopp a Messiah or a myth? The stats that prove he's no better off than 'failure' Brendan Rodgers
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Messiah or Myth? It’s a question that’s beginning to follow Kop boss Jurgen Klopp with Liverpool still a long way from winning their first-ever Premier League title.
As he heads towards two-and-a-half years into his Anfield reign, Klopp hasn’t got a pot to his name from his time in English football.
Not an FA Cup. Not even a League Cup.
The affable, media-friendly 50-year-old German talks a great game, is box-office on the touchline and in front of the cameras and is loved by his American-based bosses at the Fenway Sports Group.
So much so, that eighteen months ago they extended his contract by six years tying him to Liverpool until 2022.
But while his popularity is sky high in Boston from where where FSG run Liverpool, closer to home the mood isn’t quite so upbeat amongst supporters who have gone an astonishing 28 years without a league title.
(Image: Reuters)
Liverpool haven’t picked up a trophy in six years since they won the Carling Cup in 2012 under Kenny Dalglish and now their only hope this season is a long-shot tilt at the Champions League.
Little wonder then online fan forums where once support for the German boss was blind and unquestioning aren’t so sure anymore.
The recurring theme for many Kop fans is a simple one: How much better are Liverpool now under Klopp than they were under Brendan Rodgers?
Crunch the numbers and a surprising answer emerges that might make Celtic boss Rodgers feel hard done by over his sacking in 2015.
For a comparison of Klopp’s first 135 games for Liverpool against Rodgers leaves both men with identical win records.
Both managers won 70 games from their first 135 in charge at Anfield prompting critics to question just how effective Klopp has been since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in October 2015.
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty)
Rodgers lost 33 games to Klopp’s 26 but when the German arrived hopes were high that, at least, here was the man to lead them to the league title Anfield craves.
But eighth and fourth place in Klopp’s first two seasons haven’t brought the hope for breakthrough.
By comparison, Rodgers ended his first campaign in charge in seventh place. Then in 2014 Rodgers came closer than any other recent Liverpool manager finishing second.
Even so, that wasn’t enough to save him just over a year later Set aside playing style and entertainment value and Rodgers is ahead of Klopp when it comes to the transfer market too.
So far Klopp’s brought in 14 players at a total cost of £221.3million and sold 19 for £255.5million putting him £34.2 million in credit in five transfer windows - but Rodger’s beats that.
The Irishman spent £299.5 million on 27 players during his reign but recouped £200million putting him almost £100million in the black.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
And while Klopp has been lauded as one of the modern-day super-bosses for his work at Dortmund and his high-tempo style, his judgement, loyalty to under-performing stars and reliance on his own coaching methods bringing the best from players is sometimes baffling for fans.
Klopp’s confusing stance over keepers Simon Mignolet and German youngster Loris Karius – not the Premier League’s most convincing pair – vying for supremacy smacks of indecision.
And allowing defensive calamities that have dogged Liverpool since his arrival to continue for so long before spending £75 million on Virgil van Dijk – a world record for a defender – was another question mark.
Big players want the major prizes and while Rodgers couldn’t keep Luis Suarez from going to Barcelona neither could Klopp stop Philippe Coutinho’s exit.
For now, the majority of Reds fans are happy to give Klopp their backing especially when his stars produce the stunning attacking heavy-metal football which swamped Manchester City.
Ultimately, though, it’s the League title they want – and on that score, Klopp’s not even close.