Jurgen Klopp's all-time Liverpool 11: Premier League 2023-24
On Sunday (May 19), Jurgen Klopp will manage his final game for Liverpool when they take on the Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. The Reds will finish third behind Manchester City and Arsenal in the Premier League this campaign, but the German is still one of the most successful managers in the club's history.
Under his leadership, Liverpool won numerous accolades, ending their 30-year Premier League drought and their 15-year Champions League drought. He added three domestic cups and a Club World Cup in 2019.
Despite having the lowest net spend of the traditional top six clubs since taking over, Klopp has consistently competed with Manchester City and led his club to seven major honors. His ability to transform an underperforming team into a winning one makes him one of the most successful managers of the 21st century.
In addition to fostering team spirit and maintaining a harmonious dressing room, his tactical acumen, ability to nurture young talents, and knack for getting the best out of every player have driven his success.
Despite Liverpool's buy-to-sell policy, he built a formidable squad, featuring the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, and Alisson Becker. In this article, we will look at Jurgen Klopp's best starting lineup at Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp's all-time Liverpool 11
Alisson Becker: Alisson Becker has been a massive hit at the red side of Merseyside. He led the English giants to glory in his first season by lifting the Champions League after replacing Loris Karius between the sticks. One of the major highlights during that season came when his crucial save took the Reds to the knockout stages of the grandest European competition.
The Brazilian became the first goalkeeper to win the Golden Glove in three competitions — Premier League, Champions League, and Copa America. Alisson also managed to keep the most number of clean sheets (27) and won the Premier League Golden Glove in the 2021-22 season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: Trent Alexander-Arnold made his debut under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup in 2016. The right-back then produced a string of consistent displays in domestic competitions before making his debut Premier League start against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Growing up as a fan and coming through the academy ranks of Liverpool, Trent realized his dream as a Liverpool player by winning both the Premier League and the Champions League with his boyhood club. Trent, who is the second-highest assister as a defender in the Premier League, is one of the best right-backs in world football.
Joel Matip: Joel Matip established himself as one of the Premier League's finest centre-backs by appearing more than 200 times for Liverpool. Albeit persistent injury issues, the Cameroonian defender has rarely put a foot wrong during his eight-year tenure in Liverpool.
The former Schalke defender's colossal performance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final ranks amongst some of his best displays. Matip, whose contract runs down this summer and is currently on the sidelines due to an ACL injury, will leave the club this summer.
Outperforming his fellow centre-backs such as Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, and Dejan Lovren, Matip formed a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk to taste success. His composure, positioning, and ability to stay one step ahead of the attacker have made him a pivotal part of Liverpool's successes.
Virgil van Dijk: Virgil van Dijk and Jurgen Klopp is a love story made in football heaven. Albeit being caught red-handed for tapping up Virgil van Dijk in the summer of 2016, the Reds stood firm in their decision to sign their desired centre-back from Southampton. They were successful in doing so by landing him for a whopping £75 million in January 2018. This transfer highlighted Klopp's immense trust in van Dijk and vice versa.
The former Celtic defender brought the much-needed defensive stability and leadership to the backline ever since joining the club. His immediate impact took Jurgen Klopp's Reds to the Champions League final in 2018. Under Klopp's guidance, he nearly won the Ballon d'Or, finishing second to Messi only by seven votes. He was a cornerstone of the team's success, helping them secure the Premier League and Champions League.
Andy Robertson: Andy Robertson has silenced his doubters by exceeding expectations since signing for Liverpool in 2017. Costing a modest fee of £7 million in 2017, the Scottish left-back is now the top assisting defender in the Premier League history.
Robertson's all-around ability to impact games with his precise passing, pinpoint crossing, relentless running, and skillful dribbling makes him one of the most complete full-backs in the world. Despite experiencing a dip in form and dislocating his shoulder, the former Hull City defender has produced some encouraging performances of late.
Fabinho: Fabinho became a Liverpool player following the club's Champions League final loss to Real Madrid in 2018. He chose to join Jurgen Klopp's side despite being eyed by Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.
The midfielder's five-year spell at the club saw him thrive and become one of the best defensive midfielders. The midfield trio of Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum, and Jordan Henderson were crucial to Liverpool's success, contributing to their Premier League and Champions League triumphs.
Gini Wijnaldum: Arriving from Newcastle United, Gini Wijnaldum was one of the most underrated assets for Jurgen Klopp. The versatile midfielder manifested his adaptability by flawlessly slotting into various positions in the defensive and offensive departments.
He is not renowned for blistering speed or flashy movements, rather his off-the-ball pressing and movements set him apart, earning the tag of a selfless player during his time at Anfield. His brace off the bench against Barcelona will forever be etched in the club's history.
Philippe Coutinho: Philippe Coutinho reached the form of his life before his transfer to Barcelona in January 2018. The Brazilian, who contributed 20 goals in 18 games by scoring 12 and assisting 8, remained resolute in his desire to move to the Catalan club despite being offered the vice-captain's role.
Philippe Coutinho, who scored numerous crucial goals, hit the back of the net from outside the penalty box against Borussia Dortmund during their memorable comeback victory. The Brazilian, along with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino, caused havoc by scoring a goal every 23 minutes when all four players were on the pitch, showcasing their incredible synergy.
Mohamed Salah: Mohamed Salah has established himself as one of the all-time Premier League's greats, ranking as the 10th-highest scorer in the league's history. The Egyptian, who has amassed an impressive tally of 211 goals and 89 assists from 348 games, has been the main source of goals for Jurgen Klopp over the years.
Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane formed an incredible partnership and were one of the most feared attacks. While the other two have left the club already, Salah's performances have shown no signs of decline. He has continued to thrive, netting 18 goals and providing 10 assists in the Premier League alone.
Sadio Mane: Jurgen Klopp, who tried to sign Sadio Mane at Borussia Dortmund earlier, made his wish come true by spending £34 million on the Senegalese attacker, this time with Liverpool. Despite initial doubts surrounding his quality, the former Southampton attacker evolved into an all-around forward under Klopp's guidance.
Known for his explosiveness and versatility, Mane was one of the most feared wingers during his prime. His ability to strike hard with both feet, compete in aerial duels, and complete devastating runs made him a nightmare for the opponent's defenders.
Roberto Firmino: Roberto Firmino is the third player not to be signed by Jurgen Klopp to make it into the best eleven after Trent Alexander-Arnold and Philippe Coutinho. Whenever Jurgen Klopp's reign at Anfield will be discussed, it will be irrelevant without Firmino's contributions as he epitomized the German's philosophy of high pressing and relentless work ethic in the attacking third of the pitch.
The attacker's selflessness to create ample space for Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah led to goals. While Firmino is not known for his prolific goalscoring, his value goes beyond metrics. His unorthodox playing style set him apart from traditional strikers. Additionally, Firmino's ability to see the game differently and adapt to various situations made him a vital component of Klopp's system.