Football dynasties are sometimes founded on failure and heartbreak.
Liverpool are currently enjoying one of the most golden periods in Anfield’s long, decorated history but it hasn’t always been plain sailing for Jurgen Klopp and his Quadruple-chasing Reds. After succeeding Brendan Rodgers in October 2015, the German had to wait nearly four years to see the undoubted progress he’d inspired translate into trophies during a period which saw two cup final defeats in his first part-season in charge, an even more agonising loss in Kyiv after Mohamed Salah’s astonishing 44-goal debut season had Kopites dreaming of Champions League glory, and then their astonishing 97-point Premier League tally still not be enough to end the club’s near-three decade title drought before that breakthrough European Cup win over Tottenham in Madrid.
Much of that painful 30-year wait for the Reds’ 19th league title was spent casting envious glances east as Manchester United took over as the country’s pre-eminent side, their dominance built on and inspired in many ways by the anguish the Red Devils’ suffered themselves at Anfield of all places before they smashed through their own glass ceiling. It is thirty years ago this week that a Liverpool win over United condemned Alex Ferguson’s side to a 25th year without a league trophy and handed the last First Division championship before the advent of the Premier League to Leeds United and, with Klopp’s men this weekend hoping for a favour from their old Yorkshire rivals when they take on title rivals Manchester City on Saturday evening, Liverpudlians are hoping for some payback.
