Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Tuesday, August 2.
Michael Owen left concerned after Liverpool signed Champions League winner
There are certain football clubs which just seem to have a natural affinity - a ‘sympatico’ - between them, writes Dan Kay.
It is well-documented how before Jurgen Klopp’s arrival at Liverpool in October 2015, he had the previous year turned down an approach from Manchester United to be their manager reportedly baulking at the ‘adult version of Disneyland’ vision of Old Trafford said to have been pitched to him by then executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
"Klopp fits Liverpool so perfectly because his background is very humble”, said fellow German Jurgen Klinsmann in 2019 after his compatriot’s breakthrough Champions League triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid. “His background is blue collar, hardworking, they live and die for their club and so his whole life basically was always very, very closely connected to the people, to the neighbourhoods."
READ MORE: Roberto Firmino situation inevitable but message clear after breaking silence on Liverpool future
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That description could also very easily be applied to Borussia Dortmund, Klopp’s previous club before coming to Liverpool, where - after making his name as a coach as Mainz 05 and leading them into the top flight - he briefly usurped Bayern Munich’s dominance of the German scene by winning successive Bundesliga titles and led the ‘Schwarzgelb’ to a Champions League final where they were narrowly beaten by their domestic rivals at Wembley.
The values - footballing and human - Klopp lives by found a natural home on Merseyside and have made him as loved for his character and principles as much as the golden Anfield era he has played such a huge role in establishing, so with hindsight it should be no surprise he has proved such a perfect fit given the career path he has followed and the links between Dortmund and Liverpool.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE .
Diogo Jota dilemma emerges for Liverpool
A slightly bemused Darwin Nunez didn't quite appear to understand exactly what was happening on the pitch of the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening, but he at least knew why, writes Paul Gorst.
As the sound of Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa's One Kiss reverberated around the home of Leicester City, Nunez looked somewhat confused by it all as he and his team-mates celebrated their latest piece of silver on the pitch.
The 2018 Harris hit has become something of the adopted ode to this trophy-gathering Liverpool squad during the Klopp era alongside the rest of the 'champions playlist' – a collection of tunes that have been aired with increasing frequency over the last two years, particularly since the Carabao Cup was snared at the end of February at Wembley.
But if Nunez was somewhat shocked to hear 12,000 supporters crooning along to a UK chart hit from over four years ago, it will be something he is likely to become accustomed to at Anfield. Such scenes have become part of the modern culture for the Reds during a period that has seen them win every trophy in English football alongside a sixth European Cup and a first-ever Club World Cup.
Much of that continued success rests on the shoulders of £64m man Nunez following his move from Benfica . He's a player for the long term but his remit is to perform here and now for Klopp as they look to absorb the loss of the influential Sadio Mane.
So far, so good for the 23-year-old. Four goals against RB Leipzig were more than welcome, but it was his stooping header in the closing stages of the Community Shield against now arch-rivals Manchester City that will have resonated just that bit more .
Early days, of course, but the initial signs are positive. As the Premier League prepares to swing back into focus this weekend, though, there is a feeling that Klopp may just go with the familiar against Fulham on Saturday lunchtime in the shape of Roberto Firmino.
Klopp explained earlier this summer how both strikers offer much different things on the pitch, which gives more variety to his options but with the Reds kicking things off at Craven Cottage this weekend, the manager may just go with the tried-and-trusted for now.
Nunez, as evidenced by his cameo against City, has the potential to become a useful impact sub from the bench while he continues to get used to the patterns of movement for Liverpool's front three.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE .
READ NEXT:
- Darwin Nunez has just made Man City's 'fear' of Liverpool even stronger
- Liverpool and Man City's final Premier League positions predicted by supercomputer
- Tyler Morton reveals the two Liverpool players who 'persuaded' him to complete transfer
- Liverpool handed positive omen after referee confirmed for Premier League opener
- Liverpool might have failed this summer if they hadn't sold Sadio Mane
