LIVERPOOL: The last time as Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp ran over to The Kop and delivered those repeated fist pumps that have been his signature during his transformational spell at Anfield.
The Liverpool fans — many with tears in their eyes, just like some of the team’s players -responded with a series of deafening roars, and then cheered Klopp as he did a circuit of the field.
Soon enough, he had disappeared out of view down the tunnel.
Gone, but never forgotten.
“I’m one of you now — I love you to bits,” Klopp said among his last words as he addressed the crowd inside Anfield after his final game as Liverpool’s manager, a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton on Sunday.
The match on the final day of the Premier League season doubled as a tribute to a German coach who led Liverpool to seven major trophies in his nearly nine years at Anfield and forged such a connection with the city that he has been compared to Bill Shankly — the club’s legendary manager from 1959-74.
No wonder Klopp looked emotional throughout an afternoon that Liverpool fans never wanted to come.
They lined the streets outside Anfield to welcome Klopp and his players, and then produced a paper mosaic of the word “JURGEN” in the stand opposite the dugouts as he emerged for the game.
“People are calling it The Last Dance. So let’s dance,” Klopp told Sky Sports just off the field before kickoff – and Liverpool obliged by strolling to one final victory for Klopp thanks to goals by Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah.
In some ways, it was business as usual for Klopp.
He touched the “This is Anfield” sign in the tunnel on the way out to the pitch.
He patrolled the middle of the field with his hands behind his back during the warmups, watching his own team — and then, with that trademark glare, his opponents.
He waved to fans behind the Liverpool dugout and tapped his heart just ahead of kickoff, before soaking in an emotionally charged rendition of the club’s anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
“This morning I woke up,” Klopp said before the game, “and I was completely in game mode.”
The farewell party really started after the final whistle, which he marked by embracing each member of his backroom staff and also Wolves manager Gary O’Neil. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was in tears as he hugged Klopp near the center circle.
The goodbye celebrations reached a crescendo as Klopp walked back out onto the field about 45 minutes after fulltime, wearing a red hoodie with the words “Thank You Luv” on the front and “I’ll Never Walk Alone” on the back, to speak to the crowd one last time.
“It doesn’t feel like an end. It feels like a start,” Klopp said. “Because I saw a football team full of youth, full of creativity, full of desire.
“For a few weeks, I got too much attention and it feels really uncomfortable but this time I realize a lot of things. People told me I turned them from doubters into believers. That’s not true. Believing is an act. You had to do it yourself. You did it. And nobody tells you now to stop believing.”
With Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold now in tears, Klopp continued in his speech to the home fans: “Because we have you, the super power of world football.”
He followed it up by chanting the name of Arne Slot, his likely successor.
“Arne Slot, la la la la la,” Klopp sang, to the tune of “Live is Life” by Austrian band Opus.
Liverpool finished third in the standings, nine points behind champion Manchester City, but at least won a trophy in Klopp’s final season — the English League Cup.
Emotional Klopp tells fans ‘I love you to bits’ as his final match with Liverpool ends with a win
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Emotional Klopp tells fans ‘I love you to bits’ as his final match with Liverpool ends with a win
- Goals by Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah secured one last victory of the Klopp era
- They lined the streets outside Anfield to welcome Klopp and his players and produced a paper mosaic of the word “JURGEN”
Dubai Capitals move up to second in ILT20 table with six-wicket win over Gulf Giants
- Rahman turned the match on its head in the 14th over, claiming three wickets in quick succession to derail the Giants’ innings
ABU DHABI: Dubai Capitals strengthened their push for a top-two finish in the International League T20 with a composed six-wicket victory over Gulf Giants at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Sunday, condemning the Giants to a fourth successive defeat.
A decisive all-round display, led by Mustafizur Rahman’s devastating spell with the ball and calm contributions from Shayan Jahangir and Rovman Powell in the chase, saw the Capitals climb to second in the points table.
Rahman turned the match on its head in the 14th over, claiming three wickets in quick succession to derail the Giants’ innings. Although James Vince (36 off 34 balls) and Azmatullah Omarzai (43 off 26) had looked threatening during the middle overs, the left-arm pacer’s intervention reduced the Giants from a position of promise to eventual collapse, as they were bowled out for 156.
In reply, Jahangir anchored the chase with a measured 48 from 44 deliveries, providing stability after an initially brisk start. Powell then finished the job with an unbeaten 47 off 31 balls, striking one four and three sixes to guide the Capitals home with an over to spare.
The Capitals began cautiously, with Jahangir lifting the tempo through early boundaries as they reached 33 without loss after four overs. The momentum briefly swung back in the fifth over when Omarzai removed Sediqullah Atal (9 off 10) and Jordan Cox (0 off 2), leaving the Capitals 42/2 at the end of the powerplay.
With the Giants’ spinners tightening the screws, runs were hard to come by through the middle phase. Jahangir held the innings together, finding support from Leus du Plooy (22 off 15), before Fred Klaassen bowled him just as the partnership began to build. At halfway, the Capitals were 68/3, requiring 89 from the final 10 overs.
Jahangir’s dismissal in the 15th over briefly threatened to stall the chase, but Powell ensured there was no panic, pacing his innings expertly. Mohammad Nabi then applied the finishing touches, scoring an unbeaten 25 off 14 balls, levelling the scores with a four before sealing victory with a six in the final over.
Earlier, the Giants had made a flying start through Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who struck 25 from 11 balls as his side surged to 39 without loss after three overs. Haider Ali halted the momentum by removing Gurbaz in the fourth over and later dismissed Lorcan Tucker (1 off 4), while Nabi accounted for Moeen Ali (7 off 6) as the Giants reached 53/3 at the end of the powerplay.
Vince and Omarzai then combined to steady the innings, adding 66 runs in 46 balls to push the Giants beyond the halfway mark. However, Rahman’s return proved decisive as he removed Vince, Omarzai and Sean Dickson (0 off 1) in a dramatic 14th over, exposing the lower order.
Kyle Mayers (24 off 20) and Mark Adair (12 off 12) attempted a late rally, but confusion between the wickets proved costly. A remarkable final over saw a hat-trick of run-outs as the Giants collapsed from 152/7 to be dismissed for 156.
Capitals stand-in captain Nabi praised his side’s collective effort.
“It was a complete team performance,” he said. “They started strongly, but Mustafizur’s over changed the game. Haider was excellent in the powerplay and Fizz really shifted the momentum. Rovman paced the chase superbly and made sure we stayed in control.”
Giants skipper Vince admitted his side’s struggles continued.
“It’s been a familiar pattern,” he said. “We get into good positions but lose two or three wickets quickly when one falls. That puts pressure on the rest of the batters and makes it difficult to finish the innings strongly.”
