Jürgen Klopp's classy invite to Liverpool fan who missed players after 140-mile drive

One Liverpool fan earned himself an invite into Jürgen Klopp’s garden after driving more than 140 miles to meet the club’s players, only to find he’d missed them.

Mark Preston made the long journey from Newton Aycliffe in County Durham to Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre at 3:30am last Wednesday. He had made the trip to Merseyside in order to try and get a shirt signed for his charity, MissedABeat.

The cause raises money to install defibrillators in schools, sports venues and public places in the north east of England. Mark runs the charity, having some close friends to heart complications.

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When he arrived in Kirkby though, he discovered the first-team squad had been given a day off in the build-up to their clash with Aston Villa. Mark therefore hatched a back-up plan.

He decided to travel to the area where he believed Klopp lived. Sure enough, he managed to find the Liverpool manager’s house, and was left stunned when he was invited into the garden by the German’s wife Ulla.

Speaking to the ECHO, Mark said: “I’m a Liverpool fan because of Peter Beardsley, and I did my first ever fundraising event with him in 2022. Ever since I’ve been asking footballers to sign shirts for the charity, which I then auction off, using the money to pay for community defibrillators.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more genuine person. You see what he’s like on TV, he was 100 times better than that. The little time he gave me will potentially save someone’s life one day.”

Klopp duly signed a number of Liverpool shirts for Mark, including one that was worn during this year’s Carabao Cup final win at Wembley, while also reminiscing about his time at the club. The 56-year-old will take charge of the Reds for the final time on Sunday as they face Wolves.

The shirts are set to be framed and auctioned off at one of MissedABeat’s upcoming fundraising events.

Liverpool.com says: There aren’t too many managers you can imagine inviting a fan into their home after they’ve unexpectedly arrived on their doorstep. That just shows the manner of the man Liverpool will be bidding farewell to soon.

Klopp has done so much not only for Liverpool as a club, but also the city as a whole. He and his wife Ulla will be much missed, and it goes without saying they will be welcomed back at Anfield any time.