Jurgen Klopp: Made For Liverpool

As the dust settles on a tough season for Liverpool, many fans are reflecting on what might have been for their club. In a season which saw two final losses, and an 8th-placed finish in the league, as well as the exit of Brendan Rodgers in October, the Northern Irishman replaced by German mastermind Jürgen Klopp.

Of course, Brendan Rodgers' legacy is nothing which will easily be forgotten: in 2013-14, he took Liverpool's title race right to the wire, but couldn't build on that 2nd placed season the following year, and a lacklustre start to this season saw his time at Anfield brought to an end.

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The start of Klopp's reign was also a mixed bag, as he masterminded a 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and a masterful 4-1 win at the Etihad stadium. But it wasn't all going to come up Roses. There were league defeats against the likes of Watford and Newcastle, as well as a bitter defeat against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup Final, and an FA Cup exit at the hands of West Ham.

Many though, have pointed at the squad Klopp inherited; and did little to reshape last season. The players are certainly there for a full-blown assault on the league, particularly as the side will play no European football next season, following a heartbreaking loss to Sevilla in the Europa League

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Last season's Player of the Year, Phillipe Coutinho, will be critical for Liverpool this season, and is one of the players almost guaranteed to be safe as Klopp rebuilds his squad. Other critical players will likely include Roberto Firmino - who eventually made his mark last season after settling in Liverpool - Daniel Sturridge, who has returned to full fitness this summer after a haul of 13 goals in the league over a season which was constantly interrupted.

Klopp has also shown his willingness to give chances to youngsters with Divock Origi one player who seemed to undergo a huge transformation under Klopp last year

Good luck! You'll do brilliantly, I know it!

Looking very forward to this Infra <3

I expect you to stick to this story all the way until the new FM, no presssurrree!

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Serbian starlet Marko Grujic was one of Jürgen Klopp's first Liverpool signings, confirmed way back in January as a £5.1m signing. The 20 year old stayed in Belgrade, helping former club Red Star Belgrade to lift the league title, completing an unbeaten season, and bagging himself a place in the Team of the Season.

The 20-year old joined up with his Liverpool team-mates in May, after netting 6 goals and providing 7 assists in 27 appearances last season. Described by some as a Serbian Steven Gerrard, Grujic will be hoping he can quickly force his way into Klopp's first-team plans, although he will be competing for a starting spot with the likes of Emre Can and Lucas Leiva.

Speaking about his new signing, Klopp stated that "We're very pleased because Marko is a big talent and we've seen him a lot of times. When I came here, our scouts showed me some footage of a very skilled player from Red Star Belgrade. We watched it, we spoke to him, we met each other – he's a good boy, a young boy but plays an important role at the moment at Red Star, who are the best team in Serbia"

If Grujic settles well in Liverpool, he could well go on to become one of the best midfielders Liverpool have ever had. Klopp has a track record of developing youngsters into star players, with the likes of Mario Gotze, Shinji Kagawa and Mats Hummels all having been given their big break by the German at Dortmund.

Best of luck pal!

Good signing!

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Former Schalke defender Joel Matip has joined up with his new Liverpool team-mates on their preseason tour of China, after completing a free transfer to the club. The deal, confirmed way back in February, will see the 23 year old earn £100k p/w until 2020.

Matip has made over 150 appearances for Schalke, and scored his first International goal against Brazil in 2014. Speaking about his new singing, Jurgen Klopp has stated:

"He is a top-class centre-half, very young but experienced. You don't have that too often. To be honest, when I had my break I thought for the next club, I should think about Joel, if there was a need.

"He never played for my team, he did the extreme opposite - he played for their biggest opponent. Maybe that says a lot about his quality. Even when he played for the team you cannot love as Dortmund manager, you see his quality. Then that's real quality.

"The chance was there and Joel wanted to do something different. He is and was really close to his club; it's normal, he played there since he was a youth player. I think there was no chance for another Bundesliga club in this moment, but Liverpool was the right name and the right club.

"Maybe it was a little advantage that I know him and he knows me. He's still a young player and for a young player, it could help to make the decision when there's a manager from your home country.

"It's a good situation, hopefully a win-win. In this moment, it looks like this. Now he has to stay healthy and after the summer break we can start working together."

Klopp hopes the addition of Matip next season will help strengthen his side's defensive resolve.

He added: "He's a real centre-half. He is physically strong, a really tall boy - taller than me. It doesn't happen too often that I have to look up to someone!

"He's quick, he's flexible in his movements and good in technical things. He has played in different systems, with four or three defenders. He scores goals, four or five per season minimum. He is good in the one-on-one and quick. It's a package.

"He has to learn, that's normal, but he has learned a lot in the last few years and made big steps in his development. For us, it was a chance. You can't always make transfers only to solve a problem.

"I know people are saying our defence isn't that good. We have to defend better as a team, first of all. It's not for solving a problem - it's a transfer with a really good perspective for the future, a long-term thing. But he can help immediately and that's really good for us."

Hopefully he does well as Liverpool is one of my favourite clubs and one half of my family are from there! Will be following from now on mate, good luck

Good to see you looking to make some changes, the current squad is certainly not up to standard!

Matip is a big personal favourite of mine so I am hoping he can perform!

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Liverpool Football Club have confirmed a deal has been reached to sign goalkeeper Loris Karius from FSV Mainz 05.

The 22-year-old has agreed a long-term contract with the Reds to tie up a move from the Bundesliga side after completing a medical on Merseyside.

Speaking about the switch to Anfield, Karius told Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s a very good feeling and it’s an honour to play for a club like this.

“They have a special history and the fans are amazing here, so I look forward to playing at Anfield.

“I know a lot about the club from watching them on TV. The history, everybody who plays football knows. There a lot of things in my head when I think of this club.

“I spoke to the manager and I had a good feeling afterwards because he told me what he wants to do with the club and with the players.

“It was a good talk with him and after that I was convinced this was the right decision.”

Karius, who has represented Germany at U21 level, made 34 Bundesliga appearances last season, keeping nine clean sheets to help Mainz to a sixth-place finish.

He becomes Liverpool’s third new arrival of the summer so far after a deal was agreed earlier this year to sign Joel Matip following the conclusion of his current deal with FC Schalke, and Marko Grujic joined up following a loan spell at his former club Red Star

Great stuff Infra, lovely look to this story too, will be reading

Great stuff Infra, looking forward to seeing what you can achieve this season.

Great signing and I am loving this story mate keep it up