Why Liverpool’s season is shaping up to be Jurgen Klopp’s final masterpiece
Jurgen Klopp may be saving the best for last. In his time at Liverpool, given the continuing possibility he will bow out with a quadruple. In his rivalry with Pep Guardiola, certainly. A 30th encounter with the manager he deems the best of his lifetime did not yield a 13th win but it did produce two new highs for the German.
“The second half was the best we ever played against Manchester City, definitely,” he said. Some of Klopp’s definitive victories involved blistering starts and hanging on at the end but in a 1-1 draw, Liverpool were stronger after the break.
And there were signs of evolution, even as his thoughts could have turned to his departure. “How we played in midfield was some of the best moments of my coaching career,” Klopp said, and his great rival concurred. “It is difficult because with [Wataru] Endo and [Alexis] Mac Allister they have extra passes and the quality to play,” reflected Guardiola. “Before, they were more direct.”