Advertisement

Roy Keane left with egg on face after 'cringing' at famous Jurgen Klopp Liverpool moment

Former Manchester United player and sports pundit Roy Keane arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on May 12, 2024 in Manchester, England.
-Credit: (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)


Liverpool has officially got its new era underway, with Arne Slot in place at the training ground and making plans for the new season. But the Dutchman has a huge act to follow, after the glittering tenure of Jurgen Klopp — with Roy Keane admitting last month that he was wrong to 'cringe' at one of the manager's more famous moments.

Klopp would of course go on to win every major trophy at Anfield, ending Liverpool's long wait for the Premier League crown while also reaching three Champions League finals, winning one. But it was a major coup for the Reds to even attract him in the first place, while languishing in mid-table after the Brendan Rodgers era took a steep downturn.

Before going for the top prizes, Klopp had to turn Liverpool into a top-four club again. That involved overhauling the squad, but also the whole mentality of the club.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Brahim Diaz linked, Nico Williams latest, Mohammed Kudus setback

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news as Arne Slot 'top target' emerges and $59m Euro 2024 star 'discussed'

On day one, he issued his famous 'doubters to believers' mantra. And much of his early reign was dedicated to transforming the culture on and off the pitch.

Nonetheless, Keane was one of many to 'cringe' when Klopp got his team to link hands and go to the fans after a home draw against West Brom in December 2015. The Midlands club was firmly rooted in lower midtable, but it took a 95th minute equalizer from Divock Origi for Liverpool to snatch a point.

Under the instruction of Klopp, the team went over to the Kop, saluting the fans and celebrating the fruits of fighting to the end. But at the time, the German was one of the few to see the big picture.

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (2L) leads his players in saluting the crowd with (L-R) Liverpool's English midfielder Jordon Ibe, Liverpool's Belgian striker Divock Origi, Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino, Liverpool's Zaire-born Belgian striker Christian Benteke and Liverpool's English midfielder James Milner after drawing the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England, on December 13, 2015. Liverpool drew 2-2 with West Brom.
Liverpool saluted the Kop after a 2-2 draw with West Brom in 2015, a moment that made Roy Keane cringe. -Credit:OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

"I was at home cringing going 'what's this guy up to?'", Keane admitted to Sky Sports last month. "But he knew what he was doing. He's a smart cookie.

"Huge respect for what he's done with the club from his personality to style of football. They're back competing at the highest level."

Liverpool.com says: Years later, Liverpool players would go over to the Kop in a similar fashion after that iconic fightback against Barcelona. You can draw a line between that and the West Brom game.

It's not a direct link, but Klopp had to sow the seeds of that never-say-die attitude, that unwavering self-belief. He was never celebrating a point against West Brom, he was celebrating what it represented. Keane wasn't the only one to miss it at the time, but he was certainly left looking foolish.

Now it's up to Slot to set a culture of his own. Fortunately, he inherits a pretty great starting point from Klopp, with far less work to be done.