SIMON JORDAN: I fancy Liverpool to win at least two trophies this season
Jurgen Klopp has presented Liverpool with a situation that could be as pivotal as Steven Gerrard’s slip.
If they slip — like Gerrard did against Chelsea in 2014 to hand Manchester City the title — and don’t get the right manager to succeed Klopp, they could lose all of the traction, substance and opportunities that he has built.
But although this is a very important moment for Liverpool, Klopp’s announcement will not derail their season. Whether they can win the Quadruple is in the lap of the gods but I fancy them to win at least two trophies this season. To suggest players will down tools does a disservice to Klopp and the legacy he has built there.
Top managers need a dressing room that challenges them and possesses strong characters who can self-regulate and Liverpool have them. Players like Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and others can self-motivate and uphold standards despite all the background noise.
Clearly there is a strong relationship between Klopp and his players and over the years he has been able to manage them, rotate them and pick them up off the bench when needed without a hint of trouble. He’s never seemed to have any issues keeping players satisfied which tells me he’s a good communicator. He’s an excellent manager of people who keeps players motivated and happy.
I think that culture has seeped into his squad and I don’t expect them to let him down, deteriorate and take the weak, lazy, easy route of finding excuses if something doesn’t go their way. Now some will point to Van Dijk raising doubts about his own future but his comments didn’t surprise me. When Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley or Joe Fagan left, Liverpool players did not question their own futures but this is modern-day football, it’s different
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