Klopp unfazed by Premier League dismissals; counts on achievements to speak for him

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By Martin Graham | 4th Apr 2023

Jurgen Klopp believes he is immune to the wave of dismissal blowing across the Premier League after Graham Potter became the 12th manager to be sacked.

The Englishman joins Brendan Rodgers, Patrick Vieira, Steven Gerrard, Jesse Marsch, Ralph Hasenhuttl and a host of others to be relieved of their jobs in the top flight this season. This is a record number of sackings in the Premier League, whose clubs are notorious for their managerial churn rate.

Klopp has, after seven years, finally peaked with Liverpool. The Reds are uninspired and suffering from winner’s fatigue, unable to muster any challenge to take on their rivals in the past few seasons, Manchester City. Their place has been taken by Arsenal who are currently five points clear at the top of the table and on the verge of a first Premier League title in over two decades.

Many believe it is time for the German tactician to bow out to a very loud ovation, just as he did at Borussia Dortmund before Liverpool and at Mainz 04 before them. The media has also inundated him with questions about his future for most of the season.

The latest barrage of questions saw him expressly state that he is different from the others who have been sacked thanks to all he has achieved for the club in the years he has been manager.

“I’m aware of the fact I’m sitting here because of the past, not because of what we did this season,” Klopp told reporters on Monday, following the exits of Potter and Rodgers at Premier League rivals.

“If this was my first season, that would be slightly different. We have smart owners who know about the situation, but that doesn’t mean anything else.

“There’s no need for being afraid. I’m not here as a talisman or for murals on the house walls. I’m here to deliver, I know that 100 per cent, there is nothing else in my mind.

“But I know I am here because of what happened in the last few years. I hate the fact I have to rely on that, if it’s right or not, we will have to see in the future.

“I’m fully in it, no doubt about. But we have to sort it, we cannot continue playing like we do from time to time, that’s not allowed, really. I’m really disappointed about us that we do these kind of things, but it happened. Now we have to find a way out and that’s what we’re constantly working on.”