Carragher admits he got major Klopp claim wrong in first big prediction about Liverpool boss
Jamie Carragher has admitted that Jurgen Klopp proved his first prediction about the Liverpool manager wrong by winning the Premier League.
The Reds came close to ending their wait for a top-flight title under Brendan Rodgers in 2014. Luis Suarez and co. fired the Reds to top spot, but they could not hold on and narrowly missed out.
Rodgers spent another full season at Anfield, but it became clear in October 2015 that Liverpool needed to change.
Klopp came in and reached two albeit unsuccessful finals in his first half-season. However, the progression was clear and Liverpool clinched Champions League glory in 2019.
They narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester City in the same year. Nevertheless, they ended their 30-year wait in 2020, with Klopp etching his name firmly into Anfield folklore.
Ex-Liverpool centre-back Carragher has now admitted that he got his initial prediction about the German wrong.
“Nobody at City, Chelsea or Manchester United believed Liverpool would revive themselves to become the power they are,” the pundit worte in a column for The Telegraph.
“They knew Klopp was good, but in 2015 the relative resources at Anfield compared to their rivals made it seem highly unlikely the club would be so competitive as to become the “pain in the arse” [Pep] Guardiola has spoken of this season.
Carragher admits Klopp claim wrong
“In my first Telegraph column five years ago, I wrote this: ‘I am not convinced Jurgen Klopp will ever be able to bring the title back to Anfield. How can Liverpool compete with three of the wealthiest clubs in the world?’
“Not many beyond Liverpool were arguing against those words. Klopp’s achievements are more extraordinary given what he has been up against, especially in the form of City and their ability to outspend everyone.
“That reality – City knowing that if they win it is expected while if Liverpool do so they are beating the odds – means the extra edge is always there.”
Carragher went on to claim that Liverpool and City’s rivalry is the “greatest” in Premier League history. He noted Arsenal and Man Utd’s battles at the end of the 1990s and into the 2000s came close. However, he also noted that they did not take their rivalry onto the European stage.
Indeed, Liverpool and City played out a memorable Champions League quarter-final in 2018. They could also meet in this season’s final in Paris.
Liverpool, Man City battles have extra verve
As Carragher also noted, City and Liverpool have “raised the bar” over the standards needed to win the league.
City became the first team to finish with 100 points in 2018. In 2019, 98 was the clinching number, although Liverpool’s 97 would have won in countless other seasons.
The Reds trumped both of the latter two tallies, notching 99 on their way to winning the Premier League.
In fact, City’s 86 last season was the lowest tally from either of the rivals since their battle really began.
In his preview of Sunday’s huge meeting between the teams, Klopp insisted that a win for either side will not guarantee them the title.
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