Liverpool legend John Toshack believes that the Reds should consider the future of manager Jurgen Klopp if the German doesn’t win a trophy this season.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss has guided the Merseyside club to their best ever start to a league season, but Toshack thinks Klopp should be judged on titles won:
“If Liverpool don’t win a trophy this year then they’ve got a decision to make (about Klopp). Things look really good at the moment, but this is Klopp’s third full season at Liverpool and this is the acid test for him.
“You can be unlucky not to win a trophy, but at the top clubs that’s what matters. It’s such a fine dividing line, but when you’re at a club like Liverpool that’s what it’s all about.”
Needless to say that most Liverpool supporters on Twitter vehemently disagreed with the former Reds striker’s opinion:
He can't be serious
— Antony Bonner (@antbon1978) 26 November 2018
Absolute rubbish. Up against arguably the greatest side in world football and in the most competitive era of modern English football. You need a bit of luck to win trophies. Not winning them doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job. Undeniable progress every year.
— Rich Anderson (@RichRance) 26 November 2018
Unbeaten in the League, best ever start to a league season in our PL history and he wants him sacked if we don't win an FA Cup? It's City's title to lose and UCL is incredibly hard to win. Should we just bin everything for the FA Cup then?
— ☕️ (@TeeLFC_) 26 November 2018
I'm happy with him you can't compete with the billionaires our owners are buisness men not shieks
— tubby love (@Tubby83874378) 26 November 2018
— Rob Shields (@rob_82) 26 November 2018
The state of us in Rodgers last 12 months. Klopp has transformed us. Look at the squad klopp inherited to the one we now have. We are moving in the right direction.
— paul (@paulp_123) 27 November 2018
Don’t be stupid Toshack!!! There are 6 top sides in England at this time with competition not being this good in decades! Top four is more meaningful to clubs than a cup & if top four is achieved that’s got to be a clubs first thought surely? Qualify for @ChampionsLeague!
— Gareth Earnshaw (@GarethEarnshaw1) 26 November 2018
Rubbish, the league's far more closely contested and the squad has to pickup the responsibility for playing in the cup games. With Champions league commitments thrown in it is very difficult for anyone.
— simon white (@sjwthehacker) 27 November 2018
He's talking a lot of tosh! Klopp has improved Liverpool in every way possible.
— Kop Power (@invisiblesense) 27 November 2018
No pressure, Klopp perfect fit for the club. Enjoying the ride, realistic to understand that competing clubs have far superior resources. We have great squad and team, Klopp doing amazing job.
— steve paine (@stevepaine78) 26 November 2018
While it’s understandable to say that a manager’s success should be gauged on trophies, you have to take into consideration the context of a manager’s impact on a team.
Klopp has transformed the club from one that had missed out on the top 4 for six of the last nine years to one that has reached the Champions League and Europa League finals.
They’ve also leapfrogged the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal in becoming the main challengers to Manchester City in the Premier League.
