SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Wednesday, May 24, 2017: Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is hugged by manager Jürgen Klopp as he is substituted during a post-season friendly match against Sydney FC at the ANZ Stadium. (Pic by Jason O'Brien/Propaganda)

Steven Gerrard rues not working alongside Jurgen Klopp during his playing days at Liverpool

Steven Gerrard believes he would have won multiple trophies at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, had the Reds boss been in charge during his peak years.

It is clear that Gerrard and Klopp have a strong relationship, with the Reds manager almost acting as a mentor to the incoming U18s coach.

Gerrard took part in Wednesday’s 3-0 friendly win over Sydney FC, rolling back the years to show his class.

The 36-year-old cannot say enough good things about Klopp, and feels his trophy haul would be even greater had the German managed him.

“I was thinking if Jurgen Klopp had been at the club a bit earlier what might have been,” Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.

“There’s no doubt about it, if he had been here three or four years I believe I would have been part of him delivering big trophies for this club.

“It’s his aura and the way he is with you – how he makes you feel.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 10, 2014: Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard and Borussia Dortmund's head coach Jurgen Klopp during a preseason friendly match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“I went out there to play in a friendly and I felt like it was the World Cup final. That’s what he gives players.

“We’re blessed to have him and hopefully we can go from strength to strength over the summer. Everyone is excited.”

The Liverpool legend also spoke about how vital the return of Champions League football at Liverpool is, following the Reds’ fourth-place finish.

“It was such a key result against Middlesbrough,” he added.

“To have Champions League football back is very important for this club.

“Now we have to seize the moment. It can’t be like it was a couple of years when we got back into the Champions League but it quickly fizzled out. It can’t be like that.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Wednesday, May 24, 2017: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp applauds the supporters after a post-season friendly match against Sydney FC at the ANZ Stadium. (Pic by Jason O'Brien/Propaganda)

“We’re in the qualifying stage but you’ve got to realise that to get to the latter stages of the competition you are talking about top, top class opposition.

“Top class individuals and managers. It’s important that we keep trying to move forward.”

Gerrard doesn’t feel it will be too difficult to acquire some top names this summer, with a combination of Liverpool and Klopp a mouthwatering prospect.

“If I’m a top player around Europe and Jurgen picks the phone up and I get offered the chance to play for this club, which is moving forward in every single department and has a world class manager leading it, I’d be jumping at that opportunity,” he said.

“I want to play for him and I am 37 next week! For me, it’s such an exciting project. Not just because we qualified for the Champions League but the whole project.

“The next three, four, five, six years, whatever it turns out to be, are going to be very exciting and players will want to be a part of what Jurgen is doing.”

More from This Is Anfield

Fan Comments