19 May 2024 , 20:00
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For just over seven minutes the chant went round Anfield to the tune of the Beatles’ ‘I feel fine’.
It began in the 87th minute, by the 88th the whole of the stadium - barring the pocket of Wolves fans - were on their feet clapping their hands to the beat. The only interlude was for a Mo Salah chance. It wasn’t taken. The fans didn’t care.
“I’m in love, and I feel fine” continued to rock this famous ground which Jurgen Klopp brought back to life with seven major trophies. The song went on throughout stoppage time as Klopp’s final game came to a close.
It only stopped when the PA interrupted to inform them that the man of the moment would be back out to say goodbye when he took - quite literally - centre stage at Anfield. Then Dua Lipa’s One Kiss took over, Another anthem of Klopp’s reign.
Fitting really that he bowed out with the sounds he created playing a part. This is the man who promised to bring ‘heavy metal football’ to these parts and he certainly made the Reds rock. Liverpool won the game, by the way.
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Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah got the final goals of the Klopp era to see off Wolves, who were reduced to 10-men in the first half. Nelson Semedo was sent off after a VAR review for a naughty challenge on Mac Allister. It was one of the few times Klopp rose from his seat on the Anfield bench.
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A man who consistently manned the edge of his technical area here for almost nine years seemed to want to just soak this one up from the comfort of his red seat. Who could blame him?
Wolves' Nelson Semedo was sent off midway through the first half (ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Klopp fought back the tears as ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ played out before kick-off. There had been flares for the team bus arrival a little while earlier as the blue sky around Anfield was mixed with red smoke by the supporters.
This was their chance to say ‘Thank you’ or ‘Danke’ as the mosaic in the stand before kick-off read with a big German-coloured heart on the Kop. As the game went on, the fans went through their catalogue of chants for some of players who helped Klopp to a Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup, and two League Cups since he arrived here in 2015.
The final whistle came and Klopp embraced those around him before heading off for a hug with FSG boss John W Henry and Tom Werner in the tunnel. As the crowd waited for Klopp to re-emerge after full-time - he did briefly come out early by accident - Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ reverberated around.
Alexis Mac Allister powers home a header to open the scoring for Liverpool (Getty Images)The hope is that everything will be alright here without Klopp but he will leave a huge void. Of course, the departing coaching staff had to get their farewell first. Klopp wouldn’t have it any other way.
You know the tune by now.
“I’m so glad that Jurgen is a Red” got another airing as the main man himself walked out through the guard of honour to a stage built on the centre circle where he was met by Sir Kenny Dalglish among others. Klopp was presented with a replica of each of the trophies he won. Then he took to the mic.
“I thought I’d be in pieces,” he said, before a quip about the fans ignoring his request not to sing his song during games in the last few weeks. That just sparked another rendition. “If you sing it next year that would be funny,” he joked.
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Jarell Quansah scores Liverpool's second goal (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Klopp bows out a Liverpool hero after a glorious nine-year spell in charge (Alan Martin/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)“You are the superpower of world football,” he said, in a nod to the supporters who created the atmosphere here that helped create the tune for Klopp’s teams to play to. But then Klopp turned to the orchestrator as he led a song for his replacement, Arne Slot.
“I love you to bits,” he added. “I’m one of you now.” There was just time for a few more fist pumps in front of the Kop. “I’ll Never Walk Alone Again” was the message on the back of the commemorative tops the staff and the manager wore. They may not see the likes of him here again.
The other lyric from that Beatles song is “he delivered what he said”. For that there can be no doubt.
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