Friends of Liverpool
·23 de enero de 2025
Friends of Liverpool
·23 de enero de 2025
Merely two months after Jurgen Klopp had announced his intentions to Liverpool insiders to leave the club, was a documentary series in the works about his stunning Reds managerial career, which is set to be released on Amazon Prime at the end of February, entitled Doubters to Believers: Liverpool FC.
Plans for this began in January 2024 and, following news of its anticipated airing, it has been greeted with excitement – especially by Liverpool fans, many of whom remain in adoration of their former manager.
Klopp has effectively earned the ‘legend’ status among Liverpool fans, winning the club its first ever Premier League title, toppling a strong Manchester City side, as well as delivering every piece of silverware that was available to the club during his eight-and-a-half year spell.
The series, which is understood to have been sensitively compiled, documents most of Klopp’s entire reign at Liverpool, from his arrival, his rebuilding of a ‘sleeping giant’ and how he went about it, to all of the highs that the club experienced under his management.
It will also give viewers a substantial insight into more specific things including his player recruitment philosophy, playing style, how he approached the rebuilding of the squad as well as many other aspects, including (if possible), more of an insight into his infectious personality.
The series has been produced by Lorton Entertainment and should further consolidate Amazon Prime’s reputation as authorities in the football (and also sports) documentary niche, after the previous releases; All or Nothing: Arsenal; Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes; We Are Newcastle United; Take Us Home: Leeds United, When Eagles Dare, plus others.
Featuring interviews with key personnel who were important figures during his reign, including Virgil van Dijk (who Klopp signed), Trent Alexander-Arnold (who he promoted from the youth team, developing him into one of the best right-backs in the world), Alison Becker and Andy Robertson (both signings) and his trusted assistant manager, Pep Lijnders, viewers will gain an appreciation for just how pivotal Klopp was.
He made an instant impact following his arrival on Merseyside and would regularly be seen around the city having a coffee with fans and posing for photos, quickly getting the red half of the city on side, which is where they firmly stayed. His positive and infectious personality also went down incredibly well and this translated into his passion on the touchline and then through to his players. It became obvious as he gradually built the team he wanted that he had a squad that would run through walls for him, because they knew that he would do the same for them.
There was a lot of speculation as to what Klopp’s playing style would be like when he arrived. Certainly at Dortmund, he had a lot of success with his ‘Geggenpressing’ – a high intensity tactic, based on pushing high up the field, winning the ball back quickly and countering with blistering pace.
It took a while – certainly the type of players he identified for the squad he envisaged did take time, and considerable investment. Certainly the finished article at its peak was probably the best team in the world. Key to this and the way this team played was their front three – all of them identified by Klopp as the signings he needed. Sadio Mane (from Southampton), Roberto Firmino (Hoffenheim) and the prolific Mohamed Salah (AS Roma), who was pivotal to every piece of silverware the club won and became one of the best players in the world.
Viewers will be treated to footage from the last few years which saw Klopp build a squad that played some of the most exciting football the Premier League has ever seen, based on speed, precision, a solid foundation and last but not least, goals. This is certainly one series you do not want to miss as a football fan, let alone a Liverpool fan.