Jurgen Klopp returned to Liverpool‘s training ground for the first time in over a year on Saturday after accepting an invite to the AXA Training Center from his successor, Arne Slot.
Klopp sent shockwaves around Merseyside last January when he announced he would be leaving the club following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, essentially saying he had burned out during his nine years in the job.
The German played a key role in returning the club to the upper echelons of world soccer, helping the club to win its first league title in 30 years and also reaching three Champions League finals, winning one of them.
The memories of Klopp’s time at Anfield will live long in the memories of Liverpool fans around the globe, but the pain of his unexpected departure quickly subsided as it became apparent that the club had done a brilliant job in selecting his replacement.
Slot has always spoken glowingly of Klopp, and he invited the German to the club’s training ground on the eve of Sunday’s title lift, which Klopp is also set to be in attendance for.
Speaking in an Instagram video as he made the journey to his old workplace, Klopp said: “Wow, time is flying, 373 days after my last training session. I will be back at the training ground, wow.
“It feels amazing. I’ve been invited by Arne, and I have the opportunity to congratulate everybody properly. It will be great seeing a lot people for the first time in 373 days… and Arne for the first time! Can’t wait, will be great, it’s a cool day.”
Klopp will no doubt have had some comforting words for Trent Alexander-Arnold after he threw his backing behind the right-back ahead of his summer transfer to Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold was jeered by Liverpool fans during his last appearance at Anfield, and it is not clear whether he will appear against Palace on Sunday.
Klopp criticized the Liverpool supporters who booed him against Arsenal, saying: “I don’t want to tell you what you have to think. I can tell you what you think is wrong. I don’t tell you you should not be angry, you should not be disappointed, I tell you don’t forget. This club doesn’t forget.
“I watched the game when he came on and I heard the booing. I switched the telly [television] off. Honestly, I could not have been more disappointed at this moment.”
