Jürgen Klopp ended his unforgettable Liverpool reign with a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Anfield, an emotional yet celebratory affair marked by tributes and a glimpse of the future. Dressed in black, the departing manager addressed the crowd, declaring, “I thought I would be in pieces but I’m not, I’m so happy… It doesn’t feel like an end, it just feels like a start because today I saw a team full of youth, energy and desire.” He thanked fans for turning doubters into believers, adding, “Since today I am now one of you – I am a believer 100%.”
Before kick-off, Klopp effectively announced his successor by singing the name of Arne Slot, the Feyenoord coach, urging supporters to “go all in from the first day.” The club is expected to confirm Slot’s appointment this week. Presentations were made to departing players Joël Matip and Thiago Alcântara, as well as backroom staff. Klopp later donned a red hoodie emblazoned with “I’ll never walk alone again” and delivered his trademark fist-pumps to all four sides of the stadium.
On the pitch, the game turned when Nélson Semedo was sent off after a VAR review for a dangerous tackle on Alexis Mac Allister. The Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil criticised officiating, calling the season “completely unacceptable” from an officiating point of view. Mac Allister opened the scoring with a header from Harvey Elliott’s cross, and Jarell Quansah tapped in after Mohamed Salah’s shot deflected kindly, securing Klopp’s 209th Premier League win – the highest percentage win ratio of any Liverpool manager with more than 30 matches.
The final whistle triggered an outpouring of emotion as Virgil van Dijk tearfully embraced his manager, while the Kop sang “I’m so glad that Jürgen is a red” throughout stoppage time. Klopp leaves with seven major trophies and an unbreakable bond with the Liverpool public, having transformed the club on and off the pitch. Tens of thousands of fans had gathered outside the stadium to greet the team coach before kick-off, underscoring the scale of the farewell.
