Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 at Anfield as the Kop serenaded Jurgen Klopp for one final time as Reds’ boss
After eight-and-a-half years, the moment Liverpool supporters had dreaded finally arrived on a sunny Sunday afternoon: Jurgen Klopp’s goodbye to the club.
The German manager started in October 2015 and one Premier League title, one FA Cup title, two EFL Cup titles, one FA Community Shield title, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Super Cup title and one FIFA Club World Cup later, his incredible reign came to an end.
It’s easy for me to dedicate this article to all of the incredible moments and memories created under Klopp, but this is a match report and – incredibly – there was a game of football on Sunday.
Heading into this match, the Reds knew their points tally would stretch to 82 with a win. A remarkable tally given Liverpool’s circumstances after finishing 5th and failing to qualify for the Champions League last season.
Klopp’s last lineup provided no shocks, as the usual big hitters of Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah all started. These players have been integral to the immense success under the German gaffer.
And it was the perfect start as Alexis Mac Allister headed in Liverpool’s opener ten minutes from half-time following a red card for Nelson Semedo for a poor challenge on the Argentine.
Debuting their new kit for the 24/25 campaign, breakthrough prospect Jarrel Quansah poached home Liverpool’s second goal of the afternoon just minutes after Mac Allister’s.
The Reds would go on to have a whopping 36 efforts (14 on target) and accumulated a 4.46 expected goals (xG) but failed to increase their advantage over Gary O’Neil’s side.
Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch, Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai all made appearances from the bench as Liverpool saw out a comfortable victory.
Throughout the match, the Anfield faithful rolled back the years, dedicating songs to past heroes such as Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi. One song, which has become an Anfield anthem, ‘I’m So Glad…’ rang out continuously at full-time, and lasted for well over an hour after full-time.
Liverpool’s principal owner, John Henry, presented Klopp with gifts commemorating his time at Anfield. Special presentations were also made for Thiago and Joel Matip, whose time at the Reds have also come to an end.
The departing manager also gave a special shoutout to his successor Arne Slot by chanting his name on the microphone, encouraging Anfield to sing for their new head coach. Truly remarkable.
It’s impossible to put into words the effect Klopp had on the club and I won’t attempt to try so I’ll keep it simple. He was more than a manager. He was a father figure at the club; he turned us from doubters to believers yet again.
And as this magical time reaches its conclusion, there’s only one thing to say to Klopp: ‘danke’. For everything, he rebuilt the club that was heading for mid-table mediocrity back to one of Europe’s elite. And he won the lot.
I’m in love with him and I feel fine.
Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Bradley 70), Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Elliott (Jones 81), Endo, Mac Allister (Gravenberch 70), Salah, Gakpo (Szoboszlai 81), Diaz (Nunez 71).
Wolverhampton Wanderers team: Sa, S. Bueno (Doyle 84), Kilman, Toti, Semedo, Bellegarde (Traore 63), Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri (H. Bueno 78), Cunha (Neto 78), Hwang (Docherty 62).
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