Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League record has been highlighted by Danny Mills in a debate with his sole Liverpool title used against him as his tenure draws to a close.
Danny Mills has dismantled Jurgen Klopp’s record as Liverpool manager and claims the German is “not in the realms of Pep Guardiola”.
The Reds boss arrived on English shores back in 2015 but announced earlier this year that he’d be leaving once the season came to a close. Klopp has long received plaudits having ended Liverpool’s wait for a Premier League triumph when he led them to the title in 2020.
He also claimed the Champions League a year earlier and has helped transform the Merseysiders into one of Europe’s most feared outfits, earning comparisons with greats like Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly. Liverpool though have clearly been second best to Manchester City across the course of Klopp’s tenure – something Mills was keen to point out.
In a debate on talkSport he began by saying: “He’s won one Premier League in nine years.” The ex-Leeds star also highlighted how Liverpool have had five trophyless seasons out of the past eight and added: “But he came second. Claudio Ranieri won the league. Managers have come into Chelsea and won it in their first season.”
The fact that Liverpool have been able to run City so close has earned praise from several quarters. Klopp has also claimed an FA Cup and the League Cup on two occasions. This term he had hopes of claiming a quadruple, albeit they were ended by a loss to Manchester United at the weekend.
Klopp’s exciting brand of football has made them very watchable and has served as a great contrast to Guardiola’s City, which has resulted in some titanic tussles. The Manchester outfit have won five of the last six league titles and their trophy count has dwarfed Liverpool’s across that time period.
Much is made of the riches afforded to Guardiola at City with the Etihad outfit breaking transfer records under him. Mills though was quick to point out that Liverpool have also spent huge sums and benefitted from clubs overpaying for their players.
“Liverpool have spent their fair share,” he said. “Liverpool have been fortunate they’ve sold players for lots of money. When you look at Coutinho, what a ridiculous fee that was. £120million… he never played for Barcelona. So they’ve spent money and their wages are ridiculously high. Mo Salah’s on what, £400-500,000-a-week.
“Thiago came in, they’ve got lots of big players on big money, they’ve spent money. Klopp has been very very good but he’s not in the realms of Guardiola. He’s won one Premier League…”
