It may only be November, but Liverpool are being widely tipped to be right in the thick of the race for the Premier League title hunt by the time May rolls around.
After plenty of false dawns in their 26-year wait for a league title, there’s a sense that this really could be their year amongst the club’s supporters. Their high-tempo style of attacking football has seen them put the ball in the back of the net more than any other Premier League team so far this season, and a lack of European football means that unlike some of their rivals, the Reds can concentrate their efforts almost exclusively on league success over the final months of the season.
Of course, it’s Jurgen Klopp who has been credited with turning this Liverpool side into serious title contenders. The former Borussia Dortmund coach, who replaced Brendan Rodgers at the helm in October 2015 has instilled the same gegenpressing style at Anfield that he became famous for when in the Bundesliga. Operating on a comparatively smaller budget to some of Liverpool’s rivals, he’s also done a good job of strengthening the first team squad without shelling out huge fees for star names.
A shame then (from a Liverpool point of view), that Klopp’s days at Liverpool could be numbered.
Taking a sizeable pinch of salt, we can tell you that the Sunday Mirror are claiming that Klopp is being lined up by Bayern Munich, after the German champions’ start to life under Carlo Ancelotti failed to convince anyone that they were going in the right direction.
As is usually the case with this kind of story, there aren’t any quotes. However, the report suggests Bayern desire ‘a more youthful approach’ with the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery not getting any younger. They see Klopp as the man to do this, as well as bringing his exciting brand of attacking football with him.
As well as this, the same report suggests that Klopp will be well aware that the opportunity to coach Bayern may not present itself again, leaving Liverpool’s hierarchy with a ‘fight’ on their hands to convince him to stay.
All of a sudden, Steven Gerrard’s decision to turn down that offer from MK Dons makes perfect sense.
Or maybe not.
Fear not Liverpool fans, we doubt Klopp is set to return to Germany just yet.
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