Premier League

JURGEN KLOPP has announced that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.The manager confirmed his decision during a heartfelt interview with the club on Friday.
Jurgen Klopp told Liverpool about his plans to leave in NovemberCredit: Alamy
The manager led the Reds to their only Premier League titleCredit: Rex
Klopp compared himself to a sports car needing more petrol when explaining the decision to wife UllaCredit: Rex
The announcement came as a shock to fans and even left some players and staff in “tears”.
But Klopp revealed that he informed his employers of his decision back in November.
He said: “I told the club already in November. I have to explain a little bit that maybe the job I do people see from the outside.
“I’m on the touchline and in training sessions and stuff like this, but the majority of all the things happen around these kind of things.
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“That means a season starts and you plan pretty much the next season already.”
Klopp also discussed the huge career change with his wife Ulla.
Mrs Klopp urged her husband to carry on and sign a new contract at Anfield in 2022 when he initially planned to leave.
And he detailed how he used a bizarre analogy when he spoke with her.
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Klopp said: “I had to explain it to Ulla clearly.
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“I tried to explain it with, I’m like a proper sports car – not the best one but a pretty good one, can still drive 160, 170, 180mph but I’m the only one who sees the tank meter is going down.
“The outside world doesn’t see that, that’s good, so you go until as long as we have to go, but then you need a break. In this case, you need to go to the petrol station.
“That’s exactly what I know I have to do.
“Obviously Ulla wants me to do well and be fine, and when she realised that I’m really clear about that – and she knows I don’t take these kinds of things lightly – she is happy for me, that I’m happy with the decision. Because that’s the truth.”
Speaking about how he told stunned colleagues at Liverpool, Klopp added: “I had some talks in the last days when I had to tell other people before the public.
“There were some tears. That’s normal when we were so long together.
“The club needs time to plan the future while we are in the present.”
Liverpool next manager hunt
By Chisanga Malata
LIVERPOOL are on the hunt for a new manager following the shock revelation that Jurgen Klopp will leave the club.
The German dropped the bombshell news on Friday morning, leaving Kopites around the world stunned.
Fans’ attentions have now turned to who will replace the iconic German in the Anfield dugout.
And SunSport is on hand with the five standout candidates to succeed the club’s soon-to-be former iconic manager.
Xabi Alonso
The former Reds midfielder is the favourite to replace Klopp after a stellar one-and-a-half seasons in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso has a 64 per cent win ratio for the Bundesliga outfit, who he guided to a sixth-placed finish and Europa League football last season.
Roberto De Zerbi
The Italian has been a revelation for Brighton since replacing Graham Potter at the Amex in September 2022.
Brighton finished in sixth place last season, a mere five points behind Liverpool.
Jose Mourinho
The former Chelsea and Manchester United is currently a free agent after being axed by Italian giants Roma this month.
Mourinho has had a fiery history with the club in the past, but he’d be the perfect man to bring in if the Reds brass want to bring in a big-name manager.
Unai Emery
The Spaniard has well and truly bounced back from a disastrous spell with Arsenal at Villa Park.
Emery guided Aston Villa to a seventh-placed finish last season, a feat they’re on course to better as they’re currently fourth in the Premier League table.
Steven Gerrard
The Reds icon has been touted as a future manager of the club ever since he hung up his playing boots.
His ill-fated spell at Aston Villa, however, may put the club off from an emotional managerial Anfield return.
And on top of that, the former England man has just signed a new contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq.

The news also came out of the blue for the likes of Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, Gary Lineker, Thomas Tuchel and Laura Woods who all reacted with tweets on Friday morning.
Klopp’s assistants Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, as well as elite development coach Vitor Matos and transfer guru Jorg Schmadtke, are also set to leave.
Despite clearly indicating he wants a break from football, Klopp is already being linked with his next job in management.
Barcelona are said to be considering a swoop for him to replace Xavi while the German national team gig is another option later down the line.
The German, who “100 per cent” ruled out ever managing a rival in England, could bow out in style with a quadruple still on the cards.
Liverpool face Chelsea in next month’s Carabao Cup final, are still in the FA Cup and Europa League and sit top of the Premier League table with 17 matches remaining.
Since taking over a struggling squad from Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, Klopp has already won the Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
During his time at Anfield the 56-year-old has also been named the world’s best coach twice.

Addressing Liverpool fans in his statement, Klopp added: “I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.
“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything.
“But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy.
“I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.
“After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth.”

Roberto De Zerbi, Jose Mourinho and Unai Emery are among the candidates who could also step in to replace Klopp.
But ex-Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is the early favourite to take over.
Alonso, 42, is currently manager of Bayer Leverkusen, who sit top of the Bundesliga table.
It is reported he has a specific release clause in his contract in Germany that would enable him to leave for Anfield.
The former Reds midfielder, who won the Champions League in 2005, could be an ideal fit thanks to his playing philosophy, management style and the credit he already has in the bank at Liverpool.
Why Alonso fits the Anfield billBy Dan King
XABI ALONSO ticks almost every box to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, and if Bayer Leverkusen don’t let their lead at the top of the Bundesliga slip the case for him to do so will be irresistible.
The former Kop idol knows the club inside out after five seasons at Anfield and has made no secret of his enduring affection.
Alonso has already forged a reputation as an innovative coach playing an attractive, pressing style, usually in a fluid 3-4-2-1 formation.
He has taken Leverkusen from second bottom of the Bundesliga to seven-points clear at the top, putting them on course to be crowned German champions for the first time in their 120-year history.
It’s worth remembering that both Rafa Benitez and Klopp arrived at Anfield with proof they could dethrone clubs who dominated their leagues.
For Alonso to do the same, in only his second season as a top-flight manager, would mark him out as something special.
It is that lack of long-term experience that would still make appointing him to replace Klopp a gamble.
But otherwise, he looks like the perfect candidate as Liverpool are forced to plan a future without the man who made them champions of England, Europe and the world.

Alonso spoke to the media within hours of the bombshell announcement.
Addressing the rumours linking him with the job, Alonso said: “I was surprised by Jurgen’s news. I have huge respect for Jurgen and Liverpool.
“At the moment I am really happy here and enjoying my work. Each day and game is a challenge. We are in an intense and beautiful journey here at Leverkusen.
“Speculation is normal, but I have great respect and admiration for what Jurgen has done at Liverpool in the last nine years, and how he’s done it.
“He has a connection with the fans, he’s done a great job, but my focus is here at Bayer Leverkusen.
“I have great motivation to do a good job here, I’m very happy with the team, with the club, with everything, so that’s my focus.”
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Asked if he can rule out becoming Liverpool manager next season, he replied laughing: “Honestly… I don’t have a direct answer.
“I’m happy here right now, that’s for sure, and only thinking about Leverkusen.”
Klopp took over at Anfield in October 2015Credit: Reuters
He led the Reds to the FA Cup in 2022Credit: Sunday Times
The German will bid an emotional farewell at the end of the seasonCredit: Getty More

CHELSEA legend Frank Lampard has criticised Manchester United over their lack of plan for Mason Mount.The England midfielder, 25, left Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in a £60million move last summer.
Mason Mount has struggled since joining Manchester United in the summerCredit: Getty
Frank Lampard does not see what the plan is with Mount at Old TraffordCredit: The Times
But Lampard has questioned why Man Utd splashed the cash on Mount, who he worked with at both Chelsea and Derby, because the Red Devils already have Bruno Fernandes.
Lampard said: “The only worry I had with him when he went to United was where do Bruno Fernandes and him fit? Bruno is the captain of the football club, plays in the same position and hardly gets injured.
“Then have Casemiro. I know it’s starting to develop already and change away from that as an idea, but you could kind of think, where does he fit?
“This is not to dig Mason or Man Utd actually for bringing him in, but for a player of that level and for that money, you have to go, ‘This is the plan’.
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“That’s what I would want to hear. My question would be, where does he fit?”
Injury-plagued Mount has made just 12 appearances for Erik ten Hag’s struggling side with his last outing on November 11.
Yet even when he was fit he only made seven starts and is yet to score for United.
Mount is closing in on a return to first-team training and Lampard told the Stick to Football podcast: “He’s had injuries, he’s in a team that is struggling and there’s big negativity in certain ways.
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Mount has spent much of this season sidelined with injury
“I’m not saying it because I’ve had a relationship with him in terms of managing but I do think he will come good because of his talent.
“Once the team gets more structured, because I do think it’s important to say you’re an aggressive eight or a 10.
“It’s a difficult one and a conundrum for the team to get him into the team in his best position.
“He is very driven and if you drop him the face goes and not in a bad way, he will want to show you. He is very determined.” More

JURGEN KLOPP has announced he will step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season.His exit will bring to an end an eight-and-a-half-year tenure at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed his Liverpool exit in an emotional statementCredit: Alamy
During that time, the Reds have won seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League.
Klopp confirmed his departure in an emotional statement on the club’s website, which read: “I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it.
“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.
“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.
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“After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth.”
He continued: “I told the club already in November. I have to explain a little bit that maybe the job I do people see from the outside, I’m on the touchline and in training sessions and stuff like this, but the majority of all the things happen around these kind of things.
“That means a season starts and you plan pretty much the next season already.
“When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore’ and I was surprised myself by that. I obviously start thinking about it.
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“It didn’t start [then], but of course last season was kind of a super-difficult season and there were moments when at other clubs probably the decision would have been, ‘Come on, thank you very much for everything but probably we should split here, or end it here.’ That didn’t happen here, obviously.
“For me it was super, super, super-important that I can help to bring this team back onto the rails. It was all I was thinking about.

“When I realised pretty early that happened, it’s a really good team with massive potential and a super age group, super characters and all that, then I could start thinking about myself again and that was the outcome.
“It is not what I want to [do], it is just what I think is 100 per cent right.”
Assistant managers Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz will also leave the club along with elite development coach Vitor Matos, the club have confirmed.
Klopp has revealed he told the club of his decision in NovemberCredit: Reuters More