Doubters to Believers: Klopp’s Liverpool Years Revisited | OneFootball

Inside Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool Era: A Documentary Review

A Sentimental Farewell to Anfield

Jurgen Klopp’s final moments at Liverpool’s training base are as poignant as they are revealing. Sat outside after leaving his office for the last time in May, he delivers a farewell that encapsulates his philosophy:

“In this moment, I’m relatively sure that I will not work as a manager anymore,” Klopp muses. “I will be fine. And, more importantly, the club as well because you saw the team now. That’s a bunch of really good people and they will be fine or even more.”

His words serve as the emotional coda to Doubters to Believers: Liverpool FC – Klopp’s Era, a four-part Prime Video documentary chronicling his transformative years at Anfield. The documentary, produced by Lorton Entertainment, offers a celebratory retrospective rather than a deep-dive exposé, leaving some fans wanting more from the final chapter of his reign.

Nostalgia Over Revelation

Originally intended to document Klopp’s final season, the project evolved into a broader reflection on his tenure, incorporating snippets from his earlier days at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund. His summer interview at home in Mallorca provides a personal touch, but for those hoping for a behind-the-scenes look at his final months, access is limited.

There is little dressing-room insight, and only a select few—Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and Jayden Danns—are followed beyond the pitch. Yet, for all its polished nostalgia, there are standout moments that illustrate Klopp’s impact and the foundations he laid for Liverpool’s current success.

Lijnders and Nunez: A Telling Interaction

A particularly striking scene features assistant manager Pep Lijnders advising Darwin Nunez in the analysts’ room. As Slot’s Liverpool push for Premier League glory, Lijnders’ pep talk now takes on added significance:

“You’ve got to train your hardest and not get frustrated,” he tells Nunez in Portuguese, reinforcing his faith in the striker. “You’re the best in Europe in terms of goals and assists combined. You’ve got 23 from 36 games. Some players are just about scoring, but you are becoming more and more of an assist provider. I think that you’ve still got so much more to offer.”

Photo: IMAGO

Another unexpected insight comes from Lijnders himself, revealing a rare disagreement with Klopp over the decision to loan Conor Bradley to Bolton Wanderers in 2022.

“It really upset me a lot. It was one of the only confrontations I had with Jurgen,” he admits.

Klopp’s Defining Moments

The documentary does well to revisit Klopp’s most triumphant days. The Barcelona comeback in the 2019 Champions League semi-final, the long-awaited Premier League title, and his last trophy—the 2024 Carabao Cup—are relived in all their glory. The latter is particularly close to his heart:

“It was like a flying carpet: we just sat on it and flew,” he describes. “One of the best moments of my career.”

Yet, his farewell speech in the final episode stands as the most affecting moment. Looking back at an old photo from his 2015 unveiling at Anfield, he reflects:

“This is the proof of why I leave… eight and a half years ago, it looks like 500!”

His words to his players before departing are equally heartfelt:

“I want to say ‘I love you’. It’s been absolutely outstanding. Thank you for the ride, I’m so proud. The sky’s the limit for you all.”

Given Liverpool’s resurgence under Slot, those words feel almost prophetic. Klopp’s story at Anfield may be over, but his influence lingers on.