I think the Liverpool fans expect the Premier League. I really do. They’ve expected it since 1990, the last time they won it. And they’ve been close a couple of times.
I know from living in Liverpool that the fans here feel like they’re getting closer to winning the league and they believe it’s just around the corner.
When they see these players come in for vast amounts of money, of course they expect to be up there challenging and rivalling Man City.
Of course, every fan wants to win silverware no matter what it is, but we all know that the titles that count are the Premier League and Champions League, they’re the two you get judged on, if you’re a big club.
Klopp will feel confident his team can win something this season – and he’ll know that winning the Premier League would secure his legacy at Anfield.
If you go back to when Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed by Manchester United, they hadn’t won the title since 1967. He delivered it and went down in history.
He didn’t become the club legend he is today by winning the FA Cup in 1990, or the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991, it was by winning the league.
It’s the same scenario for Klopp. Liverpool have been waiting 28 years for a league title. Winning the FA Cup won’t put Klopp down in folklore, the Premier League will.
That’s the one the fans want and have always wanted.
If he can bring that to Anfield, Klopp will go down in history. And that’s got to be his aim.
Klopp has changed his tune on spending…but so what?
They’ve spent a lot money, and they needed to. I said last year that teams below Man City would have to spend to get close to them in the league, and Liverpool have done just that.
I know Klopp said a few years ago that he didn’t believe in that but, like anything in life, situations change in football.
Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp attends a training session and media day at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north west England on May 21, 2018, ahead of their UEFA Champions League final football match against Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
And Jurgen won’t care about that. His main goal is to compete with Man City. The Liverpool fans want the Holy Grail, which is the Premier League. He wants to bring it to them so, if that means spending money, and it’s there to spend, why shouldn’t he splash the cash?
I know there are clowns out there who want to make Jurgen Klopp look like an idiot, but I’m not buying it.
As someone who’s managed teams, things do change – whether that’s team selection, tactics, or transfer fees, you’ve got to keep up with the times.
Alisson will be massive – Shaqiri a smaller fish
Last year, Liverpool were fantastic in their style of football, the way they played, and getting to a Champions League final.
Some managers would think, after a good season like that, ‘we’re not far away’. But what Klopp has done is strengthen the team.
Everyone was screaming out for a goalkeeper, so signing Alisson was the big one. He wasn’t tested much in the World Cup, but you could tell he’s a class above – he must be to cost that much and do what he did at Roma.
He’s going to be massive for Liverpool.
We knew Naby Keita was coming and he’ll play in a similar role to Jordan Henderson. Fabinho is versatile enough to play in several positions. And Shaqiri adds depth up-front.
I always thought, from an attacking point of view, if you look at the three-pronged attack after losing Coutinho, that Klopp had to add to that.
Mane, Salah, and Firminio are top class but, if you get an injury or suspension, you need someone to come in, so Shaqiri could be a great bit of business.
It’ll be a good fit for him. He’s going to a team now where he doesn’t think he’s the best player in the squad, like he did at Stoke.
The way he behaved there wasn’t the best, or what you’d expect from a professional, but now he’s going to a team where there are bigger fish than him, and he has to conduct himself in the way Liverpool players do.
Klopp won’t be taking any rubbish from anyone, let alone him. On his day, Shaqiri can be a world beater, he can do magical things, he’s a bit like Salah in the way – they both come off the right, though Mo scores more goals.
Klopp has given himself loads of options and brought in a lot of quality.
Don’t go 28 years without a win, get over to PaddyPower.com now