BEFORE the game yesterday Jürgen Klopp appealed for an atmosphere at Anfield.
“Like all things in life, you can wait for the moment or you can create the moment,” he said. “Hopefully we can create the moment against West Brom. I’m always close to a good atmosphere in myself. If other people can join us in this, that would be cool.
“It is close to Christmas and people are maybe concentrating on other things. But when we come together we should all be prepared for a very special moment. If we have to play against doubts, then it is difficult. Maybe we can create the best atmosphere in the last 10 years.”
It doesn’t take too much reading between the lines since his arrival in October to work out that Klopp has been underwhelmed by what he has seen and heard from fans at Anfield. It wasn’t what he was sold, this. There was no mention in the brochure of shoulder-shrugging, scowling and an all prevailing feeling of “here we go again” the second a mistake is made.
Klopp expected a roaring Kop, flags and banners, The Twelfth Man, sucking the ball into the back of the net, a crowd worth a goal start. All that. He’s a romantic, a man who lives on emotion. And in Liverpool he thought he had identified a kindred spirit.
Instead, he got people walking out with loads of time left on the clock against Palace. He got virtual silence at times. He must have wondered when the songs would come, when the roar would return, when arms would unfold and frowns straighten out.
Liverpool’s recent record at Anfield is becoming a real concern and the fans haven’t been helping. Yesterday, finally, they did. The game that unfolded followed a familiar script, a scene played out all too often in this corner of L4. Indecisive at the back, organised but limited opponents grabbing points, goalkeeping gaffes, conceding from set pieces. All very Liverpool c.2015.
But in the stands, it was better. Klopp’s rallying call was answered. The team’s name was chanted, even at times when a big moment hadn’t prompted it. There were clear attempts to lift the players, to urge them on, not just the reactionary cheers. And that must be a millions times more motivating than the moans, groans and worse that normally accompany mistakes by those wearing red shirts.
By the end of the game, Anfield was in full voice. And you could see it lifted the players. It definitely lifted the manager. Jordon Ibe and Divock Origi looked like they had a spring in their step as the positive vibes lifted them to keep going, to keep trying, to make it happen, to force the stroke of luck.
In the end only a point was gleaned from the jaws of defeat but with Spurs and Manchester United losing, it isn’t the worst result, and it so very easily could have been worse.
Fans are right to expect more from Liverpool but those expectations shouldn’t come at the expense of support. And that’s why I think Klopp was right to salute the fans with the players at the end. He asked, we gave. He wanted that to be acknowledged. We’re better together.
So now we know. More of that. It shouldn’t have to come to public appeals and pitchside thank yous but Anfield has to change. Support should move towards being unconditional, not subject to results. And who knows, with better support maybe better results come, too? It’s clearly Klopp’s thinking, yet still we have the negativity from many that follow the club.
Many of the moans that have followed the manager’s actions centre around the conservatism that has started to rule many at Anfield. Don’t sing or shout, because what if you say the wrong thing? What if someone thinks you’re a dickhead? Too many at Anfield seem paralysed by unwritten rules, frozen by fear of ridicule, too scared to start a song.
Everyone thinks there’s a problem yet no one thinks it’s their fault. And if you try to change it, well what about being cool?
So now we see, what will X set of fans think about what Klopp did? They’re going to take the piss. Going to laugh. Even Sky Sports is getting in on the act, describing Klopp’s act as “behaviour you would ordinarily see at a cup final”.
Who’s arsed? They’re irrelevant.
I appreciated the gesture and those around me on The Kop applauding with a beaming smile appeared to feel the same. If that means the next time they click through the Anfield turnstiles they bring with them a greater willingness to sing, scream, shout and roar then happy days, that’s what matters. The manager couldn’t have been clearer on what he wants.
Other fans want to have a pop, sound — how is the atmosphere at their ground and what is their manager doing to remedy the situation? Would they take Klopp at their club?
There you go.
Our manager is having a go. As he said beforehand, you can either wait for things to happen or you can make them happen. He went for the latter. Everyone who goes to Anfield should do the same.
“It was the best atmosphere since I’ve been here, it was great,” Klopp said after the game. “People were disappointed or frustrated but they didn’t let us feel it. They saw the lads tried everything.”
Again the message is clear. Make your support unconditional. Back the players and urge them on rather than letting frustrations spill onto the pitch. Make Anfield a place to fear for the opposition, rather than a place to fear for the Liverpool player who makes a mistake.
The next home game is Boxing Day v Leicester. A noisy Kop, a manager going nuts and players and boss saluting the fans afterwards. Sounds alright, doesn’t it?
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda-Photo
Straight after it happened Tony Evans was whining on twitter that it was basically small time behaviour. So there you have it, if stuck in the past moaners like him are against it then it was a GOOD move by Klopp!
I saw it… and Tony can go f**k himself..
It that same stiff upper lip cant do attitude that we need to get rid of…
Time for LFC to get back to how it was..
Harsh on Tony that. I think he argued his point well in his piece yesterday on ESPN. Whether he’s right or if Kloppo will prove him wrong remains to be seen. I certainly hope for the latter, but let’s be honest and admit none of us can know what the consequences will be.
Since none of us know “what the consequences will be” let’s just stick to what Klopp wants, to “live in that moment” and get behind the fucking team no matter what.
Klopp felt that passion and reacted to it. Let’s give him and the players even more of it next home game. Especially at times when they need it.
Can’t disagree with that of course, but nor would Tony Evans I think.
What’s less clear is how a hand-holding salute of the supporters after a draw at home against an average side will affect the Liverpool players.
I couldnt give a flying f**k what the fans of other clubs think..Quite frankly is about time we (LFC – Players, Manager & Fans) start uniting.
At least for god sake…Have a laugh, enjoy our club, enjoy our team…
The man has called us to arms…The crowd, how we feel..Atmosphere.
The message is clear…This train is waiting for no man…Get onboard or f**k off home!!!
Truth.
“The next home game is Boxing Day v Leicester. A noisy Kop, a manager going nuts and players and boss saluting the fans afterwards. Sounds alright, doesn’t it?”
Sounds boss mate. In fact, it’s the thing that’ll get me through all the ususal Christmas twaddle. It’s about getting your priorities in check, and Jürgen’s got me looking forward to a Boxing Day game like I’m a little kid. Well-in.
He asked the fans for support. He tried to rev up the fans. The fans responded. We scored. He thanked the fans. Anybody who doesn’t see that needs to change their attitude toward their support.
“Like all things in life, you can wait for the moment or you can create the moment” – Klopp 2015
Would look great on a banner/poster/bumper sticker tha.
What a man.
Up the Reds
Yes. That has to be a banner! Anyone who doesn’t understand what Klopp is doing is going to miss out on the next big adventure. You’re either on the bus or you’re not. Time to choose. Or as the Americans so eloquently put it – “you’re either riding the steamroller or you’re part of the tarmac!”
Yeah, totally that for a banner.
That or “This train is waiting for no man…Get onboard or f**k off home!!!” – James Ifill.
It’s time to get silly. Let’s have some fun. – JimmyDanger
Still amazed how many people around me were getting off on 84 mins!
As an auld arse in the Main Stand yesterday I wished I was many years younger and on the Kop. Yes some supporters and twats like Tony Evans could see the celebrations as risible, but as someone who was on the Kop when Shankly celebrated winning the League in 1973 by picking up a scarf about to be kicked and discarded by a copper, I loved it and look forward to when the collective moment in front of the Kop is to recognise us as Champions once again. Klopp can give us what we crave – just believe and support!
That’s a fantastic image Frankie and one that will stay with me forever!
We really don’t need to explain anything do we?
They’ll soon find out what it was like!
For too long we have had people who are employed by the club not grab the fans/supporters at Anfield by the scruff of their necks and get them noisy, but Jurgen Klopp did just that yesterday and looked what it did. It scared the ref, it scared WBA, it scared Tony Pulis, and it lifted the whole ground. It looked like we were going to score again. That’s the Anfield of Rafa’s era during a European Night we witnessed for a few minutes.
Now imagine that level of noise for 10 – 15 minutes per match and what it would do for the players? Never mind 90 minutes, just 10 – 15 minutes… it would be like the team of title challenging Rodgers when they started games… with such a ferocity and frenzy that it would absolutely blitz teams…
This was a start for Anfield, and hopefully where as our team tries and builds on previous performances game by game, lets hope this is something our Anfield can build on game by game and start turning Anfield into the place that had made us the most feared team in Europe.
If we’re completely honest about it Klopp can’t impact the team really until next season. Even if we give Mingolet a new contract, doesn’t mean we can’t sign a new keeper or protract SM’s negotiation out til the end of the season, but in the meantime until someone else at this level is ready to come he has to back him.
In terms of the thank you at the end, well this is something new for English football, well big fkin deal. Yes Anfield can generate it’s own unique atmosphere (when things are going well.) but if this is the kick up the arse the fan base needs then so be it.
Why can’t we have some of the things from the continent in our club, why can’t we have the barrier between staff and fans broken down. I read a tweet from Paul Tomkins against Sion when he was moaning about the awful din of noise coming from the Sion end. Fuck me, you mean the loons behind the goal giving their all for a shite, 2nd rate, mid table Swiss team in baltic conditions in a dog of a game. At Anfield you’d hear a pin drop and moan about the lack of atmosphere.
Some have moaned that this is the type of thing you see when you win, not when you pick up a point. But surely if the crowd have given their all and the players have you can do it even if you lose.
If we can embrace some of this “Thank You.” (not, look at us) and get an atmosphere back, when things aren’t going so well, then as we know from 13/14 the good results will look after themselves.
It’s a bit like wearing a pink polo shirt in the summer when all you’ve worn for the last 10 years is grey, blue or black. You’re not sure but fuck it I’m a grown man if I want to wear a pink top I’ll wear one.
spot on. I hope to see this “Thank You” become part of our postmatch ritual/tradition, home and away, whether we win, lose it draw!
Great article.
And your comments are spot on as well Brian. I think you nailed what Klopp’s intentions were when you said, “Some have moaned that this is the type of thing you see when you win, not when you pick up a point. But surely if the crowd have given their all and the players have you can do it even if you lose.”
That’s what it’s about. If we as the support give everything we can, and we’re able to say the same of the players after 90 minutes, then why not acknowledge each other?
I honestly can’t fathom how any Liverpool supporter would have such an issue with this (or any issue at all). I thought it was brilliant and still find myself unable to believe that he’s our manager.
I look at Leicester and see what liverpool used to be. The team is always giving 100% but so are the fans. Being a fan is all about being passionate. If you have no passion, then you are a spectator.
Ask yourselves this. Do you want to live life on the sidelines passively watching? Or would you like to step out and join in supporting the team. And what does it matter that your team desn’t win? It is always nicer to win, that’s the truth. However its the moments that stick with you, and participating in the experience is always more fun.
He’s just boss isn’t he. The man’s only been here two minutes and he’s already got the whole f*ck you England, we’re Scouse, thing nailed. The rest of the country seem to be completely baffled and hate us for build something unique in this league. So, go’ed Jurgen lad, it’s funny as f*ck reading the media right now. Love it!
Sold me ticket Friday for personal reasons so ended up watching it on the laptop. I was thinking to myself then that the atmosphere sounded clearly better than its been for a long, long time.
A kick up the arse to us supporters was needed, we got one, we responded accordingly. I think it was a great gesture, admittedly at first I was thinking along the lines of “fucking hell we only drew against West Brom”, half an hour later I appreciated the gesture for what it was, an acknowledgement of a far better, less poisonous atmosphere than what has been lingering like a bad smell for a while. This can only BENEFIT the players on the pitch, and as some people have said, they were buzzing afterwards despite the result not being all that great.
Supporters enjoying football. That’s what it’s all about and something we haven’t been doing. If we can’t win then I want to be able to know I at least enjoyed a lot of it. Hopefully it can act as a precursor to more intimidating and enjoyable atmospheres.
As someone has said on am earlier post, if you can’t get on board this train, fuck off then and go somewhere else.
‘Who’s arsed? They’re irrelevant.’
Precisely. Klopp’s ace. The best manager in the league by a long chalk. Everybody wanted him, we’ve got him and don’t they just hate it. If our fans can’t get around him now they need to have a good look at themselves.
Spion Kop 1906 should petition Klopp directly. He could (and I suspect would) sort this nonsense out immediately. The club’s attitude goes against everything he wants from the fans.
“Who’s arsed? They’re irrelevant.”
Is right.
Yes the flag Nazis need to be put in their place and Klopp would be the man to do it
Yes, really hope behind the scenes he’s kicking arse about the flag issue. “Just get it fucking sorted Ian once and for all”.
For those of us watching in USA our TV feed at the end of the match was so loud you could barely hear the commentators. The cameras we shaking especially the cameras on the pitch. I guess what I am saying is if Anfield is loud enough to be heard across the pond, all the better. However it happens or what is the cause doesn’t matter. The team was obviously lifted by it.
Me too… and for the first time, NBC cut away to commercial before YNWA… they’ve figured out “whatever, its nothing special this YNWA. Let’s make a buck off a commercial”.
They used to actually announce “and now the famous ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ” and you’d get to watch the whole thing… was great to just crank the volume up on the Tele and feel as though you were “back home”.
They came back from commercial during the last two lines of the song.
We need to get that back. It is vitally important that these things that “make the club special” are not lost.
Let the moaners stew in their own sour, rancid juice. They’ve controlled the atmosphere at Anfield for too long. And they’ve manipulated the conversation on Twitter for too long. And the Scouse v Wools & Tourists game has to end. I watched a clip yesterday about the Yellow Wall at Dortmund. One supporter said “Everyone’s equal there whether you’re a labourer or an academic.” Inside Anfield everyone’s equal. We all want the same thing — for the team to do well. When pettiness and ‘too cool for school’ arrogance, and the pick-the-player-you-hate-the-most-and-take-out-all-your-week’s-frustration-on-him mentality gets a kick in the ass and we actually start to believe in the manager who believes in us, we have a chance of moving forward to a future of success. It’s not rocket science or magic — 40,000 people inside a football ground have the power to make a difference — if they want to.
This is the dawn of a new era: a new trinity!!!
We, LIVERPOOL, will be ahead of the rest in terms of fan support, noise level, and finally on pitch performance for 90 minutes (all – action football).
Let us all enjoy the coming happy days. Let others envy us.
Amen!
What’s this? For years TIA writers/commenters have been telling us that the reason the atmosphere at Anfield is so flat is that ground is full of tourists and day trippers and ‘real’ fans can’t get seats.
“If only more proper Scousers could get in everything would change”, the cried.
Can we finally put that excuse to bed?
That’s a blanket statement which doesn’t actually reflect the plurality of views on the subject on both site and podcast. And this is TAW, not TIA.
I agree with that response and it’s why I routinely read TAW but only glance occasionally at TIA.
OK. How about “it has been commonly used as an excuse by some writers and commenters alike”?
Oh, and sorry for the TIA thing. Didn’t mean to insult.
“Support should be unconditional, not subject to results”.
Spot on GR. Surely, that’s the whole point of being a SUPPORTER. Every football fan of every club supports their team whether they win, lose or draw, whether they play well or shite, whether they win the league or get relegated. And by “support”, I mean sticking up for them, cheering them on, being on the same side, trying to help the team do better in any way possible.
And the great thing is, the more positive and passionate the support, the more likely that the individual players and the team are motivated and driven to perform well. Just look at the 2012 Olympics and the effect that unconditional, positive and passionate support had on Team GB athletes. So many of them said they heard the roar and it spurred them on to even more effort and made the difference between “also ran” and gold medal.
Now just imagine what difference we, the Anfield crowd, could make. We’ve done it before and we did it for the last 15 minutes or so on Sunday. Let’s do it for the full 90 minutes and see what happens!
Our brilliant manager knows this and is a genius at “creating the moment” to demonstrate what he wants from us and how it helps the team. His orchestrated team line up to thank us afterwards was also a master stroke. In fact, he’s not only orchestrating the team, he’s also orchestrating the 40,000 in the ground and the millions of LFC fans outside the ground. Sheer genius!
Two powerful words ‘Thank you’.
Klöpp has experienced success with the 3 things in place: good staff with good players and good support. At Liverpool now, the staff work as a team, the players work as a team. Now for the support. The support in the ground has to move from ‘individuals wanting their opinions to be validated’ to ‘ I gave my best for the result today'( and the ticket price was only the start)
I’d rather face 40 000 walls of one brick, than a 40 000 brick wall.
Confidence is so important to performance. At times the yo-yo form creates great uncertainty. Who’s gonna turn up this week. I suppose it’s the same for the crowd as it is the players.
What I often read about here is the privilege a player should feel playing for LFC… And rightly so. However, those attending games are also highly privileged. Complacency slips in easy and every now and then someone comes along and says ‘wake the fuck up’.
I really hope that this re-energizes the support going into the next games. I also hope that Klopp and the team create a habit/tradition of greeting/thanking the support in this way. I think that it will create a new dynamic at Anfield and with the away support as well. LFC needs this as much as we need anything else.
Do those of you in Liverpool that go to the match (and especially those of you on the Kop) think/hope this will become a regular thing in the matches to come? I hope so…thought it was brilliant and ballsy.
It just doesn’t work that fans can blow the roof off every week regardless of the results on the pitch.
All the noise and passion counts for nothing, and will soon start to fade away if we don’t get the wins on the pitch- that’s just life.
You mean your life
Spot on article . Here is hoping for a change back from “entertain me” to unconditional support and having a laugh watching your team.
Does make me smile .. some of our support up in arms because the Manager and the player’s said “thanks”
Just because we have been brain washed into expecting little or no interaction from the players or Managers at the end of a games doe’s not mean it’s right..
WAKE UP. ..we deserve more then we currently receive … all support. ..all clubs.
I will accept their thanks…be ungracious not too.
@kopite321: You couldn’t have said it any better. Currently, I am really disillusioned about the EPL in general and with all due respect, I regard it as overpriced mediocrity. – I am a livelong “Red”, but the German version of it (Bayern, born in Munich). But that said, I got excited by the EPL around the millennium, this absolutely crazy Istanbul final, the utterly sad 1999 Bayern CL final against ManU, the Gunners with Henry, Bergkamp, etc. and so on. My father spent some time over in England in the 60ies and 70ies and was mad about the “amazing atmosphere” in the English Championship. He was a semi-professional player himself and his eyes went all shiny once he came talking about the EC.
But now in 2015, what has the EPL become? The fan base/club relationship is nowadays like one between a corporate business and its clients:
“Be guest of the show, pay for it, be nice and quiet and please buy enough merchandise on your way home!”
I acknowledge, there is a difference in mentality between Germany and England as well, but to consider it being odd, thanking the supporters for their commitment is odd, indeed.
Btw, comparing TIA to TAW would insult this site. Though around 10% of the TIA blogs are decent, I’ll have to admit.
As a supporter based in NZ I watch most PL games each week (my online subscription gives me all games). I watch Liverpool first, but then I go looking for Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester games because the atmosphere of the games, the style of play, and the way the fans support their team.
Coincidence?
Sky reckon it was cup final behaviour? Like thousands welcoming the bus to the ground and they loved that a couple of seasons ago!
I was at Anfield on Sun (first visit for a while) and I was quite impressed by the atmosphere. I have known it 10 time better like but Kloppo must have been made up with it.
I’ve got to admit it’s getting better (Better)
A little better all the time (It can’t get more worse)
I have to admit it’s getting better (Better)
It’s getting better since you’ve been mine
A boxing day hangover; big game; bigger noise; big victory;
come on red men
Going the game is supposed to be an escape from the “real life”. Let your fuckin’ hair down a bit shout, scream and sing. Get behind the team and make a difference.
Thoroughly depressing to see the likes of Tony Evans not get on board with this and already deciding to have a pop at the new guy on the block.
Tony’s right that results soon change the crowds perspective on the team and he’s right in that their are structural problems around recruitment that need addressing, hopefully we’ll see some of that in Klopp’s first few windows.
The atmosphere can look after itself when results go our way but it’s been awful now for over a year.
Everything in popular culture is borrowed from one place or another from the Oasis borrowing from Neil Innes, to the Tarantino Hong Kong inspired Reservoir Dogs, to the Battle of Britain dogfight scenes in Star Wars, to the 1960’s products of Braun Bauhaus that inspired the minimal design of the ipod. Everything somewhere along the line is inspired from elsewhere, taken, re worked and made into something else.
How long have people moaned about the commercialisation of the game and at the first step in someone trying to break down the barrier between players and fans he gets shot down, ridiculous.
Under Rafa we had the Spanish scarf thing which we adapted to make our own and under Klopp we can have the German influence of their terrace culture to again make it our own.
Indeed! Indeed!
Tony Evans is a marginalised journo. If you follow his almost nightly lager-driven rants on Twitter you soon see that he takes a contrary point of view designed to evoke a response — to attract attention. He expresses himself as though he alone knows what is best for the Club. He’s also very much stuck living in memory land, clinging to the past. Jürgen is a forward-looking manager who wants to write “a new story” for Liverpool Football Club. Get on board or get off this train because it won’t wait for you to load and stow your baggage.
P.S. I respect Tony Evans. I just don’t think that because of his long association with the Club he necessarily knows and should be dictating what’s right for the Club and its supporters in this new era.
After Rodgers the atmosphere needs ” rebuilding” along with the squad. That Klopp isn’t banging on about “projects'” and “rebuilding” is testament to what a great manager he is, and whatever the teams ability, he deserves the atmosphere he craves. If a matchgoer can’t deliver this , they should stay away from the ground.
I’ m with you; F**k everyone else! Fk other ‘supporters’ Fk Skymanc news! Fl BBCMANC! This is our club, our ground, our team and our manager. I said it before. I have sat among the ‘faithful’ at Anfield and some scowl if you start a chant. Sod them! I am the cool one not you! Klopp doesn’t read papers doesn’t give a toss what others think. I’m a Kloppite and I am here to say YNWA.
We are one consciousness. Together we can make a massive difference. Rather than making it a chore.
On the Klopp thing:
It’s always pissed me off when managers and players only clap at fans in the centre of the pitch.
Klopp was right to make the players walk right over to the Kop. But the ‘holdy hands’ thing was a bit much.
There’s something that really bothers me. Liverpool has a well-deserved reputation for being a welcoming city that is friendly and generous to visitors. Yet visitors who enter the turnstiles at Anfield have said they were not made to feel welcome. This is shameful.
Some visiting fans have sacrificed hugely to make the one trip of a lifetime to their temple of football. They have love and passion for the Club in their hearts. They should be made to feel EXCEPTIONALLY welcome by local fans as an expression of their pride in the Club they are so extremely fortunate to grow up near to and able to attend more often. Instead, some of our local fans see their fellow Reds international fans only as annoying outsiders, as ‘daytrippers’ to be scorned and mocked. I say again — it’s shameful in the otherwise welcoming and friendly city of Liverpool.
I have to say-as a wool-I’ve been made to feel very welcome on the Kop and in the Main Stand. Each time I’ve been the supporters around me have been very cool and inquisitive about my history of being a Red, where I’m from etc. I also sing a lot and they seemed to like that. I think if foreign fans show respect and make an effort to get to know everyone around them they will find the same experience. If they just sit and talk amongst themselves or take a lot of photos maybe their results may vary. I’ve felt like an honorary scouser every time I’ve been to Anfield.
I loved it! Kop and klopp united! We only got a point and it was 5am here in melbourne when the game finished but i was buzzing after all that and couldnt sleep! Great comeback, atmosphere sounded amazing on the telly and the manager responded. Perfect! YNWA!
Spot on Gareth. We’ve slipped into believing that Anfield being a matchday morgue is acceptable. It isn’t. If it’s Klopp who kicks our collective arse, well good job somebody did.
Remember when the Kop used to rev up even as the ball hit the Liverpool net from an opponent? Deny them and their supporters even 1 second of glee. Issue a forceful reminder that they will now have to pay for what they’ve just done. That they’ve gone and made us angry. Contrast that with the snarl of disapproval and the passive slump of acceptance when anything goes wrong now. THAT’s when the volume button needs to be turned to 11.
Wools out
Klopp too? How about Lucas? Coutinho? Sakho?
Yeah thought so. Wind your neck in lad.