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Ranking the top ten players in Jurgen Klopp’s six years as Liverpool manager
With Jurgen Klopp celebrating six years as Liverpool manager, we rank the top ten Reds to have played under the legendary German.
On October 8, 2015, Klopp took over as manager of Liverpool, ushering in one of the club’s most illustrious eras.
Both the Premier League and the Champions League have been won, as well as a rich brand of attacking football rarely seen at Liverpool.
From world-class goalkeepers to superstar forwards, many wonderful footballers have contributed to Klopp’s era of dominance.
Here’s how we ranked Klopp’s top ten players.
10.Andy Robertson
It feels unfair to put anyone at No.10, given the excellent service each individual has provided, but Andy Robertson is up first.
Over the last four years, the Scot has established himself as Liverpool’s greatest-ever left-back, displaying remarkable consistency.
Robertson has a skilled left foot that has resulted in 38 assists, as well as defensive tenacity and a feisty personality that irritates rival fans.
In many ways, he personifies what Klopp’s Liverpool stand for: running until he drops, producing endless quality, and connecting with the fans.
At 27 and with a contract until 2026, he’s still got plenty of gas in the tank.
9.Gini Wijnaldum
Liverpool’s midfield has struggled at times this season, so it’s no surprise that Gini Wijnaldum’s departure coincided with those problems.
The Dutchman may have been misunderstood by some, but for those who admired his work, he will be remembered as a Reds legend.
Wijnaldum, a midfielder blessed with intelligence, physicality, and underappreciated ability, was a vital cog in the machine during the domestic and European triumphs.
Not only that, but he came up big in big games, scoring three goals in the Champions League semi-finals and scoring against Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
Wijnaldum’s second-half impact against Barcelona at home will be remembered for a long time.
8.Jordan Henderson
Forget about Jordan Henderson’s current poor form; what he has accomplished under Klopp has been phenomenal.
The 31-year-old became the first Liverpool player in 30 years to win a league title, and his all-around impact that season was arguably unrivaled.
Henderson, unlike many others, has been with Klopp since the beginning of his reign, and the manager has clearly adored him from the start.
Is he the most talented player on the team? Obviously not. However, he is the most powerful figure off the field and remains criminally underappreciated as a footballer.
Henderson has made a compelling case for being a better captain than Steven Gerrard, which says it all.
7.Fabinho
Fabinho may not have the longevity of Henderson or Wijnaldum, but we think he has a better chance.
To take Liverpool to the next level in 2018, a world-class No. 6 was required, and the Brazilian is exactly that, having mastered the role over the last three and a half years.
His expert game reading is complemented by his ability to play defense-splitting passes, and he is a warrior who shines brightest in the most difficult games.
Few people are missed more when they are not present, which is always a sign of a great player.
6.Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold will be even higher on this list a few years from now.
The 23-year-old Liverpool defender has been a revelation, threatening to become arguably the most influential full-back of his generation.
Alexander-Arnold, the Reds’ most technically gifted player, is a joy to watch, spraying long-range passes, breaking the lines deftly, and totaling 45 assists.
He is Liverpool’s creative hub from right-back, which is incredible, and he is only 23 years old.
A certain future captain with the potential to become an all-time great – and it goes without saying that his performance against Leicester in 2019/20 was outstanding.
Ranking the top ten players in Jurgen Klopp’s six years as Liverpool manager
5.Roberto Firmino
Roberto Firmino hasn’t had a good 18 months or so, but that shouldn’t detract from what he’s accomplished during Klopp’s tenure.
No player has made more appearances (291) under the German than he has at Liverpool – James Milner (246) is far behind in second place at Anfield – and he has been the ideal foil for his fellow attackers.
Firmino’s penchant for dropping deep and wreaking havoc was unrivaled in Europe at his peak, and he famously scored the game-winning goal in the 2019 Club World Cup.
He is the ultimate team player, pressing like no one else at his peak. He is an eccentric showman known for outrageous flicks and no-look finishes.
Firmino will feel like a cliche alert new signing if he can regain his former form.
4.Alisson
If Virgil van Dijk was instrumental in turning around Liverpool’s fortunes in January 2018, Alisson felt like the final piece of the puzzle later that year.
In the years since, the 29-year-old has been the best goalkeeper in the world, possessing an aura between the sticks and finally filling a Reds void that had been gaping for far too long.
Alisson’s brilliance stems from the fact that everything appears to be so simple – he rarely has to make great saves because his positional sense and reaction times are so quick, making him the anti-Jordan Pickford!
There’s also the small matter of him scoring the game-winning goal against West Bromwich Albion last season – without that, there would be no Champions League football at Anfield in 2021/22.
3.Sadio Mane
Mane is another player who hasn’t been at his best recently, but what he’s accomplished at Liverpool makes him one of the greatest attackers in the club’s history.
His arrival in 2016 felt like a catalyst for Klopp’s side to shift up a gear, with his blistering pace and end product on display from his debut at Arsenal onwards.
Mane was possibly Liverpool’s star player during the title-winning season, and his 102 goals in 227 games is an incredible feat for a wide player.
He is a tenacious fighter on the field, has created numerous iconic moments, and, as an added bonus, is the nicest man on the planet.
There may be concerns that Mane’s best days are behind him, but it would be typical of him to silence the skeptics emphatically.
2.Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk narrowly misses out on first place, but if this list was based on the most influential players under Klopp, he would be first.
Since his arrival, the Dutchman has performed at a higher level than any other center-back in the world – by a wide margin.
It is easy to find flaws in even the best players, but Van Dijk is as complete as any defender in the last 30 years.
Quick, strong, dominant in the air, effortless in possession, a superb reader of play, a leader, dangerous in the opposition box, and enviable looks – he truly has it all!
Last season’s long-term absence was as damaging as any injury suffered by a Liverpool player since Gerrard, so it’s great to see him back in action.
1.Mohamed Salah
It’s got to be Mohamed Salah.
Van Dijk was not far behind, but he hasn’t done it for as long as the Egyptian King, who is currently the best player in the world.
Salah has been an unstoppable machine for Liverpool since joining from Roma in 2017, shattering his initial reputation as a ‘one-season wonder’ and working his way into the club’s all-time XI.
His 134 goals in 212 appearances is unfathomable for an out-and-out striker – including a Champions League final strike – but the fact that he plays out wide elevates it to legend status.
Salah is a once-in-a-generation Liverpool talent who is finally receiving the widespread acclaim he deserves – the hope is that he will be around for many years to come.
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Ranking the top ten players in Jurgen Klopp’s six years as Liverpool manager
