May 20 – “I’m one of you now — I love you to bits.” Those were an emotional Jurgen Klopp’s parting words to the Liverpool fans as he brought the curtain down on nine years at the club on Sunday, prompting a deafening roar before he disappeared down the Anfield tunnel for the final time.
Klopp exits the club after picking up seven major trophies and forging an unbreakable connection with the supporters reminiscent of the great Bill Shankly.
While his farewell campaign ultimately ended in disappointment as his title bid fizzled out, Klopp’s status as a Liverpool icon is secure.
The farewell party started after the final whistle of Liverpool’s last-day 2-1 win over Wolves to finish third in the league as Klopp embraced each member of his backroom staff. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was in tears as he hugged Klopp near the centre circle.
The bitter-sweet celebrations reached a crescendo as Klopp, who is being replaced by Dutchman Arne Slot, walked back out on to the field about 45 minutes after fulltime, wearing a red hoodie with the words ‘Thank You Luv’ on the front and ‘I’ll Never Walk Alone’ on the back, to speak to the crowd one last time.
“It doesn’t feel like an end. It feels like a start,” Klopp said. “Because I saw a football team full of youth, full of creativity, full of desire.
“People told me I turned them from doubters into believers. That’s not true. Believing is an act. You had to do it yourself. You did it. And nobody tells you now to stop believing.”
By contrast, no prizes for guessing the most underwhelming team in the Premier League. Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United finished eighth – their lowest position in the Premier League era and now must beat champions Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final to secure European football for next season.
“It is not good enough by far,” said Ten Hag who may not be around to improve things for much longer. “Although we had less than 60 points two years ago, 58 points, eighth is the worst performance. It is the truth, but we should have done better.”
With a first ever Champions League qualification already secured, fourth-place Aston Villa were trounced 5-0 at Crystal Palace while Tottenham ended in fifth to enter the Europa League along with sixth-placed Chelsea. Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United, all promoted from the Championship a year ago, were relegated.
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