Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, has fond recollections of the Merseyside derby. Ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League match against Everton, Klopp shared his most cherished derby memory. Klopp, who will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, has experienced 18 Merseyside derbies as Liverpool manager, with Wednesday’s match being his final one. When asked about his favorite derby memory, Klopp couldn’t help but recall the thrilling 1-0 victory in December 2018, sealed by Divock Origi’s dramatic 96th-minute winner. Origi, who was brought on by Klopp in the 84th minute, headed home from close range after Jordan Pickford failed to clear Virgil van Dijk’s shot. The goal brought Liverpool within two points of Premier League leaders Manchester City, leaving Klopp beaming with joy after the game. “I definitely remember that,” Klopp said of the December 2018 Merseyside derby. “That was a great moment. The last second of the game, when I saw it, I could feel it.” Despite cherishing Origi’s last-gasp winner, Klopp admitted that he doesn’t particularly relish the intense pressure that comes with the Merseyside derby. “The pressure is higher, so why should the joy be higher?” Klopp said. “You win it, great, but why should I miss the pressure around it?” Klopp acknowledged the passion and excitement surrounding the derby but emphasized the constant pressure and decision-making involved, which can be a burden at times. “I will never be able to watch a Merseyside derby without any kind of emotion,” Klopp added. “I feel exactly the same as everybody else around these games, but as long as I’m involved, I have to be calm.” Klopp’s departure from Liverpool will mark the end of an era for the Merseyside derby. The German manager has played a significant role in the rivalry, and his absence will surely be felt. However, his memories and contributions to the derby will undoubtedly live on.
Jurgen Klopp’s Fond Merseyside Derby Memory and Reflections on the Rivalry
dev
