Jurgen Klopp was unveiled as Liverpool boss on this day five years ago — marking the start of a truly remarkable period of success at Anfield.
Tasked with leading the club back to the top of English football, the charismatic German inherited a club devoid of direction but made clear from the outset that he could oversee a turnaround if given time and patience.
Approaching the job with a clear philosophy and infectious enthusiasm, Klopp (pictured above) has carefully crafted a squad blessed with supreme talent and a workrate to match any on the planet.
With a Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup and the all-important maiden Premier League title now safe in the trophy cabinet, we have teamed up with our friends at Opta to look at five key stats that have defined Klopp’s tenure on Merseyside to date.
Imrpoving slowly but surely
Liverpool’s rise under Klopp has been a steady process.
Back in 2015-16, their win ratio was down at 44.2%, resulting in the Reds finishing eighth in the league behind Southampton and West Ham.
Last term, the Reds achieved a 71.9% win rate across all competitions as they won the title — a substantial increase on Klopp’s first season in charge.
Finding the right faces
In Klopp’s five-year spell, 88 different players have appeared for Liverpool, with 58 of them making their debut under him.
The German remains fiercely loyal to those he regards as key assets, as illustrated by Roberto Firmino appearing in a staggering 242 of his 272 games in charge.
The fantastic three
Widely regarded as the world’s most exciting forward line, the trio of Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohammed Salah have netted 261 times under Klopp.
Those strikes alone account for 46% of Liverpool’s total goals in all competitions in that period, with Salah currently sitting one short of the 100 mark.
Unsung heroes
While Salah and Mane grab most of the headlines with their goalscoring exploits, Klopp’s sides generally have some key cogs that avoid the spotlight.
Firmino and James Milner have set up 91 goals between them, with 54 of those coming via the Brazillian.
Fortress Anfield
Liverpool’s home turf has always been a tough place for any visiting side, but Anfield has become a fortress under Klopp.
The Reds won a record 24 straight Premier League matches there from February 2019 to July 2020.
And they are currently on a 61-game streak without a league defeat in front of the Kop.
