Jurgen Klopp left an interview with three Liverpool legends in tears after guiding the club to the Premier League title in 2020.
Klopp’s Reds romped to the championship in style during the Covid-disrupted season, finishing a whopping 18 points ahead of runners-up Manchester City.
It was Liverpool’s 19th top-flight title overall, their first for 30 years and first of the Premier League era, which was confirmed after City were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
After sealing the title, Klopp joined Liverpool greats Kenny Dalglish, Phil Thompson and Graeme Souness via video call from a hotel where he and his players gathered to watch the match.
Klopp kitted himself out for the occasion wearing a Liverpool shirt and fought back the tears as the interview drew to a close.
“I have no real words. I never would have thought I would feel like this,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
He continued: “I’m completely overwhelmed. It’s just… I’m sorry gentlemen,” before quickly leaving the live broadcast.
During the interview, Klopp paid tribute to some of the club’s legendary figures who had paved the way for their most recent title success.
The German reserved a special shout out for Dalglish and former captain Steven Gerrard who was unable to lead the Reds to title glory during his 17-year career at the club.
Klopp said: “This is for Kenny, you had to wait. Stevie, you too. I know how much this means to everyone.”
Klopp joined three Liverpool legends live on air just moments after sealing the title[/caption]
Klopp was overcome with emotion during the live broadcast[/caption]
But it all became too much and the German quickly left the interview[/caption]
The 2020 title win was tinged with slight disappointment in that fans were unable to enter stadiums across the country due to a nationwide lockdown.
Liverpool’s players lifted the title at Anfield’s Kop end while fans gathered outside the stadium to celebrate the feat.
Klopp came close to repeating the title success in 2022, taking Man City to the final day of the season in a closely-fought race.
Despite claiming top spot for periods of the final game of the season, City’s come-from-behind victory against Aston Villa was enough to see off the Reds’ title challenge, pipping Klopp’s men to the crown by one point.
Unfortunately for the German boss, his team’s title challenge faded in the final weeks of this campaign – which will be his last in the Anfield dugout.
Liverpool had been part of a three-way race with City and Arsenal, one that was setting up one of the most exciting late competitions in recent Premier League history.
But the Reds’ form took a nosedive after Klopp’s exit announcement, with an FA Cup exit to Manchester United, Europa League exit to Atalanta and a run of nine wins from 16 league games seeing their quadruple hopes end with a whimper.
Klopp and his team can at least look back on January’s Carabao Cup final celebrations fondly, having already made sure the beloved manager won’t leave Merseyside empty handed in his final season.
And his players will want to give him the coach the send off he deserves with victory over Wolves on the final day of the season on Sunday, having already guaranteed third place and a return to Champions League football.