Jurgen Klopp will be comforted by ‘best friend and brother’ David Wagner in the opposition dugout today – as Liverpool play for first time since his bombshell decision to leave at the end of the season
- Jurgen Klopp will step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season
- The Reds will face Norwich in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Anfield
- A sad, dejected manager says goodbye. This is a seismic moment for Liverpool It all starts
Jurgen Klopp will be comforted by having his ‘best friend and brother’ David Wagner by his side for an emotional afternoon at Anfield.
The fixture list for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Norwich makes no mention of Klopp’s announcement on Friday that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season due to early publication deadlines.
But in his program notes, Klopp speaks warmly of Canary Islands boss Wagner, the best man at his wedding after they first met as teammates in Mainz.
“I know David so well that I consider him a best friend and a brother,” Klopp said.
“Today will be a rare experience for me where I want his team to lose and I am sure David also wants me to suffer the same fate.
Norwich City boss David Wagner (right) was the best man at Jurgen Klopp’s wedding
Jürgen Klopp shocked the football world by revealing he will step down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season
‘Usually the teams we manage are each other’s second favorites. I’m sure we’ll hug beforehand and hopefully afterwards too, but there will be no sentiment in between and neither of us would have it any other way.
“David is an excellent leader, a manager who is prepared for so many different types of challenges and trials.”
This will be the first time The Kop have had the opportunity to pay tribute to Klopp since it was learned he is leaving after nine years on Merseyside.
On Saturday, the Liverpool captain became the first Reds player to speak following Klopp’s announcement. He admitted on the club’s website that the news was difficult for the team.
“It’s hard to accept because the manager means so much to us, to me, to the club and to the whole Premier League, I think,” Van Dijk said.
“But he made the decision for him and his family. It was always going to be a tough task and that was certainly the case.”