Jurgen Klopp press conference LIVE! Liverpool updates and latest news as manager announces departure

Jurgen Klopp press conference LIVE!

Liverpool will today host a press conference for manager Jurgen Klopp, where he will explain his decision to walk away from Anfield. At the end of the season, the German coach, 56, will call time on his illustrious era on Merseyside.

In a heartfelt statement made to fans, Klopp insisted he was "running out of energy" and admitted he was surprised by his own decision to take a step back. Attention now turns to how the Reds will see out the campaign under their manager of over eight years, with a potentially memorable departure coming up as they compete for four trophies, and their hunt for a successor.

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has been installed as the early bookmakers' favourite, alongside Roberto De Zerbi and club legend Steven Gerrard. With plenty more reaction to come and updates ahead of Liverpool's game against Norwich in the FA Cup on Sunday, follow the latest news via Standard Sport's live blog!

Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool latest updates

• Liverpool boss announces shock decision to quit Anfield

• Jurgen Klopp statement in full

• Next Liverpool manager odds: Xabi Alonso the favourite

Jurgen Klopp reveals exact moment he decided to leave

16:11 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp says he started thinking about leaving Liverpool during pre-season.

He said: "It was first time when I realised [I wanted to leave]. I'm the leading part of these meetings [pre-season discussions], I'm the one who says 'yes', 'no'... and I couldn't do it.

"That was the moment I started thinking. And then the football we played became better and better, the potential of the team was more and more obvious and that was another moment. I thought 'that's it'."

Read the full story!

Jurgen Klopp responds to Jose Enrique's FSG bust-up claims

15:56 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions that Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group are behind the manager's shock exit announcement.

He said: "I saw Jose Enrique, who I like a lot, say it is about FSG. I can tell you, absolutely, FSG has nothing to do with it.

"It would be easy in this job to blame the owners and say FSG should spend more. Was I always happy with that? No. But they built two stands, this AXA Centre for the next 40-50 years, we did it properly, the LFC way, which I love. That we didn't win [more] Champions Leagues and Premier Leagues is not down to money.

"That we got 97 points and 94 points and didn't win the league or didn't win another Champions League wasn't down to signing one player. If you want to blame anyone, blame me. Having a team that could do all that was exceptional."

Read the full story!

Jurgen Klopp reveals player reaction to exit

15:38 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp has revealed the Liverpool squad reaction to the bombshell news of his planned exit.

"The players I spoke to altogether and a few others after that," he told reporters. "We have a really strong bond, but they haven't asked questions yet. We have a really strong bond. We are professionals...

"The agreement with the players is for one year (at start of season). We are completely in that year and the boys are in a really good mood."

Read the full story!

That's it from the press conference

15:37 , Marc Mayo

We'll post the best bits shortly.

Any other times he knew to go?

15:36 , Marc Mayo

"Last season and three years ago I think, they were dog years. It's really big to get through.

"It was the first time actually when I realised, I'm usually the leading part of these meetings [for pre-season etc]. And I couldn't. That was the first moment.

"We still planned so whatever comes will be fine, because we had to.

"The football we played got better and better, the potential of the team was more obvious and then it was 'that's it'. A proper push, a really good manager on top of his game. That will be fun to watch... and I will do that."

Message to fans?

15:29 , Marc Mayo

"I really hope they can accept the decision.

"I'm not in the mood to say thank you, even though I should five million times, but that will happen.

"There's no misunderstanding of feeling, everything is clear. It's not about me, we need all the support for all the games starting the day after tomorrow.

"Let's squeeze everything out of the season, that's the message."

Any chance of reversing decision?

15:28 , Marc Mayo

"No. Nothing.

"I really thought a lot about it. This situation was always clear, I had to make a decision at one point because nobody else would. The owners knew I would take the decision because I don't want to just be hanging around.

"I thought it through properly and I want to win everything this season, so that wouldn't change my mind. If we don't win it wouldn't.

"I made it independent of the results.

"The big one is the potential of the team, there's a good basis to work with and that's why it's a good moment to give it to somebody else."

Next move?

15:25 , Marc Mayo

"No club or country for the next year, no other English club ever, I promise that - even if I have nothing to eat. That will not happen as well, by the way, thanks to Liverpool.

"So that's all okay, but it's too important to [keep going] with 50 per cent. That's why this team is set up for the future.

"The basis is there and whoever comes in cannot give a guarantee to win trophies but a really good chance to play good football.

"If we keep all that, it's a wonderful future ahead. I don't want to be the passenger disturbing that process."

Favourite moment or regrets?

15:23 , Marc Mayo

"I'm not in the mood to think about that yet. I don't have to remember anything now.

"The best memories are still to come, so many moments I would probably mention the wrong one because I'm not prepared.

"I have no regrets, a lot of special memories. The most important people know, the supporters and players, but there's nothing to add on really. We can clarify things and I saw Jose Enrique who I like a lot but he said it is still about FSG but I can tell you Jose it's not. Nothing to do with it.

"It would be so easy to blame the owners, 'We would have won more if we spent more...'

"Was I always happy with each second? It was absolutely fine. We built two stands which will last forever - if there's not an earthquake. It's wonderful. We built this training ground, wonderful.

"We did it properly, we did it the Liverpool way.

"That we didn't win the title with 97 points or the Champions League final is not down to one signing. I understand a fan view of that, fine, but not a professional view.

"It was me. It was my job, nobody else. Everybody brought us to that point, 97 points was exceptional... it had nothing to do with [FSG].

"It was super intense. Losing a final is more intense than winning a final, over the years you add it on and at one point you have to make sure you get a rest."

Really refreshed in the summer?

15:19 , Marc Mayo

"The summer was difficult, we worked really hard to bring in the right players but when it happened it looked okay.

"We had the training which was outstanding, realising how good this team can be gave me a lot of joy.

"But it's not about that - at this moment I love each minute. But the next stuff, the planning, the transfer window and work around it, you need to be spot on because it's really important.

"Then I realised I couldn't. I've done it so often, so many press conferences. I have no problem with you but I cannot wait for when I don't have to do it again - like so many things.

"You have to be the best version of yourself, especially for a club like Liverpool. It means so much, I cannot do it on three wheels and I never wanted to be a passenger.

"My skills are based on energy, emotion, relationships... it takes and needs all of you. If you can't do it anymore you can change things but I am who I am.

"If it cannot be anymore then stop it and tell the people. I was 100 per cent convinced I would go to 2026.

"I underestimated it, I thought my energy levels were endless but it's not."

Role in choosing his successor?

15:11 , Marc Mayo

"It looks like I do all the work, I can't and I don't. What we built over the last eight years is an incredibly strong structure behind the scenes.

"That's one reason I can leave, I wanted to put everything in place so this club gets stronger. That means so many people work here with only one idea - to find a perfect solution for Liverpool.

"That will happen, one thing they don't need is the old man walking out the door telling them 'do this, bring him in'. I won't do that.

"Most things I have no opinion on and I have no problem with that, I wish this club the very best for the future and for now I can help them."

Distraction for the players?

15:09 , Marc Mayo

"They didn't have many questions, they have a really strong bond. We are professionals.

"The agreement you have with the team on both sides is one year, after that anything can happen.

"For a year you have a real agreement, we are in that and the boys see it exactly like that. In training you can see the boys in a really good mood.

"It's not that they partied when I told them, it was just an announcement. It's different to other situations, usually a sacked manager just says goodbye. That wouldn't happen here because of our achievements with each other.

"A lot of managers would have been sacked last year. When it's not right anymore I have to tell them.

"The distraction comes from outside, but we will not let it happen. If we want we can throw in more because of this and that's 100 per cent the situation. The fact I said I won't be manager next year is not an excuse to do less, we will fight for everything and that's good news.

"I know I can't do the job in the future but I can do it very well right now and that's what I will do."

Emotions?

15:05 , Marc Mayo

"The relief was when I made the decision, I didn't expect that. Today it's mixed.

"I'm not as emotional as I will be when it comes to leave.

"Two important things I had to do was tell the owners of course, but the supporters and players.

"The reaction from the players was top, we know each other so long. I don't say things like that then walk away, I'm here. I'll ask 500,000 questions if you want today but afterwards that's it.

"Not a lot of emotion here, I had to tell some people slightly earlier and there were some tears. That's normal. It's the right thing to do and the right moment because the club needs time to plan the future while we sort the present.

"Relief is not there anymore because I knew before how I felt."

Why now?

15:03 , Marc Mayo

"I thought I said that in the statement.. with all the responsibility to this job you have to top of your game. I am but I've been doing this for 24 years now, when you've had the career I have it is pretty much impossible to arrive at Liverpool

"If it becomes Liverpool you've had to invest everything you have. That's not a problem but my resources are not endless.

"I preferred to put everything in this season then have a break or stop or whatever. You realise you are at an age and you don't jump like young rabbits anymore.

"I didn't think about it on purpose, but I started thinking and at that moment this club, with all the super things we have, we need a manager on the top of his game. If I cannot be that anymore I have to tell people.

"Otherwise, I could have started and realised through next season and try to get through it. That's not how it should be.

"I think it's the right thing to do, I don't take these things lightly."

We're underway

15:00 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp has taken his seat, time to begin.

PS, you can watch the press conference live on your Facebook page!

Jurgen Klopp press conference

14:57 , Marc Mayo

Right then, not long to wait until we get underway...

Jamie Carragher tips Xabi Alonso to take the reins

14:54

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has claimed old teammate Xabi Alonso "ticks all the boxes" to take over from Jurgen Klopp.

In his piece for the Telegraph, the ex-defender has revealed his reaction to today's bombshell news.

He wrote: "I genuinely thought it was some kind of hoax, or cruel joke.

"The immediate reference point was the resignation of Kenny Dalglish in 1991, when Liverpool were top of the league and preparing for an FA Cup replay with Everton. I was an Everton fan then, delighted Kenny was going.

"That’s the greatest measure of a manager’s class. When rivals are celebrating the departure, it shows how much the coach has been admired and feared.

"The tributes will flow for Klopp between now and May. The biggest compliment is that he not only made the people happy, as the famous slogan on the Bill Shankly statue outside of the Kop reads, but he changed people’s lives, recreating the European glory nights synonymous with Anfield."

What's on the agenda

14:51 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp spoke extensively to the club about why he's leaving, so there isn't a huge amount more to discuss on that front.

Perhaps there will be some dotting of the Is and crossing of the Ts, with regard to transfers, the ownership and any potential misgivings he has that prompted this decision.

We'll also likely hear how the players reacted to the news, when and how he told them, plus his hopes for the rest of the season.

It feels inevitable that he will be asked about his successor, but it would be a surprise if he ever entered that debate - let alone so soon.

Jurgen Klopp press conference soon

14:44 , Marc Mayo

We're expecting to get underway in 15 minutes' time at Liverpool's training ground.

What will Jurgen Klopp do next?

14:39 , Marc Mayo

A sabbatical or possibly even retirement appears to be on the cards for the outgoing Liverpool manager.

"If you ask me, ‘Will you ever work as a manager again?’ I would say now no," he told the club website on Friday.

"But I don’t know obviously how that will feel because I never had the situation. What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100 per cent. That’s not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people is too big. I couldn’t. I couldn’t for a second think about it. There’s no chance.

"This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There’s no chance to do that. But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around. I will find something else maybe to do. But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that’s not possible, I cannot do that and I don’t want to. That’s all."

Roberto De Zerbi coy on Liverpool links

14:27

One of the favourites for the Liverpool job is Roberto De Zerbi, but the Brighton boss has said there is nothing to reveal about his position at the moment.

"There is no news," he told reporters.

"My focus is on the end of this season. We want to focus on our targets."

It certainly feels like no prospective new managers have been approached at this time, to ensure the secrecy around Jurgen Klopp's decision to go.

Jurgen Klopp press conference coming up

14:15 , Marc Mayo

We will have live coverage of Jurgen Klopp's press conference in just under an hour.

Proceedings set to get underway from 3pm GMT.

Managers react to Jurgen Klopp news

14:06 , Marc Mayo

A number of Premier League bosses are facing the media today ahead of their FA Cup ties.

Marco Silva and Erik ten Hag have both spoken about Jurgen Klopp's decision to leave Liverpool.

Fulham boss Silva said: "A big surprise for all of us. Almost eight years and 500 games and it’s been a big success. A really nice guy and I wish him all the best."

Whereas Manchester United's Ten Hag said he can relate to Klopp saying he is burning out as manager of a top club.

He told reporters: "He has done an amazing job in Liverpool. I can understand [he ran out of energy]. Nine years is a long time.

"I think it's a period of building up, achieving targets, but also, I think setbacks and going into difficult periods. The Premier League is very intense.

"The combination with European club football, when you're there nine years, it's a long period, and I can understand he is running out of energy, and that is one of his arguments to step down."

Liverpool frontrunner distances himself from replacing Jurgen Klopp

13:25 , Marc Mayo

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has cooled talk of himself returning to Liverpool to replace outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp.

German coach Klopp, 56, will depart Anfield at the end of the season after making a shock announcement of his decision on Friday.

Speculation has already begun on who might be installed in the Reds hotseat in the summer, with former midfielder Alonso the early bookmakers' favourite.

In five years at the club, he won the Champions League and FA Cup before leaving for Real Madrid.

"The board tells me to forget about leaving," he told a pre-planned press conference shortly after Klopp's announcement.

"They are happy with the project, also the president is proud and we’re already talking regarding things about next season.

"Rumours about my future have been there since August… I'm still here."

Read the full story!

Numbers behind Jurgen Klopp success

12:48 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp has won seven different honours including the Premier League and Champions League with Liverpool and he has won more than 60 per cent of his 466 games in charge.

They won the 2019-20 title with 99 points, just one fewer than Manchester City's record 100 two years earlier, while their 97 as runners-up in 2018-19 is a record for any team who did not finish as champions. They lead this season's standings, five points clear of City having played one game more.

Klopp's next Premier League win will be his 200th, with his record currently standing at 199 out of 317 games. In all competitions he has won 283, drawn 105 and lost 78 and the club have scored 972 goals on his watch, a number that will surely hit four figures before the season is out.

That league title and the 2018-19 Champions League stand out as the highlights of Klopp's Anfield reign but success has come in all competitions.

Victory over Tottenham in Madrid, following a spectacular semi-final fightback against Barcelona, brought his first trophy with the club and the following season saw Liverpool win the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup and then the Premier League.

A domestic cup double in 2021-22, winning both finals in penalty shoot-outs against Chelsea, allowed them to add the 2022 Community Shield. An eighth different trophy could come in this season's Europa League.

Klopp could finish with the highest win percentage of any manager in Liverpool's history and still has the chance to climb from fourth place in terms of trophies won with the club.

As of the announcement of the German's imminent departure he has won 60.7 per cent of matches, trailing only Sir Kenny Dalglish's 60.9 per cent across two spells and narrowly ahead of the club's formative managerial partnership William Edward Barclay and John McKenna who won 60.6 per cent from 1892 to 1896.

Only Bob Paisley, with 20 trophies including six league titles, Bill Shankly (11) and Dalglish (nine) rank ahead of Klopp's trophy count with the club.

Liverpool announce another exit with sporting director to leave

12:18 , Marc Mayo

Following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have announced sporting director Jorg Schmadtke will also leave his role.

The German, 59, was coaxed out of retirement to replace Julian Ward last year and oversaw the signings of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo during the summer transfer window.

It has been a quieter window for Liverpool this month and, once the market has concluded, Schmadtke will part ways with the club.

“Liverpool is a very special club so to have had the opportunity to work here has been a huge honour for me, even though I knew from the outset that it would only be for a short period," he said.

“I would like to thank everyone – the owners, manager, staff, players and fans – for the support I have been given and offer my best wishes for the rest of this season.”

Read the full story!

Next Liverpool manager odds

11:58 , Marc Mayo

Xabi Alonso has emerged as the early betting favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp as the new manager of Liverpool.

Xabi Alonso 5/4

Pep Lijnders 3/1

Steven Gerrard 11/2

Roberto De Zerbi 15/2

Julian Nagelsmann 9/1

Ange Postecoglou 14/1

Luis Enrique 14/1

Luciano Spalletti 16/1

Diego Simeone 16/1

Antonio Conte 20/1

Jose Mourinho 40/1

Rafa Benitez 40/1

Massimiliano Allegri 50/1

Domenico Tedesco 50/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

Jurgen Klopp's incredible Premier League stats

11:54 , Marc Mayo

Anfield will be rocking in search of win number 200 against Chelsea next week!

Klopp has already revealed what he will do next

11:45 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp could take a break from football after announcing his decision to leave Liverpool.

Speaking to German outlet SportBuzzer in August 2020, he declared: "I'll take a year off and ask myself if I miss football. If I say no, then that will be the end of coach Jurgen Klopp.

"If one day I am no longer a coach, there is one thing I will not miss: the brutal tension immediately before the game."

He backed up those comments in a later interview with Einfach Fussbal: "When I leave Liverpool, I won't take a new job the next day. That's for sure. I will take a one-year break after Liverpool."

Travelling the world watching football while he is still fit and healthy is certainly something Klopp could spend his time off pursuing, as he told German podcaster Matthias Hielscher last summer.

"I’m under contract with Liverpool until 2026," he said. "And I want to see that out, then take a gap year. That could be the end, but who knows how I’ll feel after a year?

"That’s why I’m leaving the door open. I would like to travel a lot, but not just being pushed around in a wheelchair or walking with a cane. I can watch football from anywhere. That’s why I won’t do the job forever..."

Read the full story!

Multiple departures announced

11:31 , Marc Mayo

Jurgen Klopp will not be the only one leaving Liverpool in the summer.

Assistant coaches Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz are also moving on, with the club saying Lijnders wants to pursue his own career as a manager.

Development coach Vitor Matos is also heading for pastures new.

A real revolution will be unfolding at Anfield!

Jamie Carragher reacts: 'Let's go out with a bang!'

11:25 , Marc Mayo

Jamie Carragher has described Jurgen Klopp's decision as a "body blow" to Liverpool.

But the Reds hero has urged the team to "go out with a bang" as they compete for four trophies this season, including the Carabao Cup final.

Jurgen Klopp press conference

11:23 , Marc Mayo

Liverpool will hold a press conference to announce Jurgen Klopp's upcoming exit at 3pm GMT.

We'll have all the updates from it as it happens right here.

Jurgen Klopp statement in full

11:19 , Marc Mayo

“I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment, when you hear it for the first time, but obviously I can explain it – or at least try to explain it," Klopp said in an interview with Liverpool's official social media channels.

“I love absolutely everything about this club, I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters, I love the team, I love the staff. I love everything. But that I still take this decision shows you that I am convinced it is the one I have to take.

“It is that I am, how can I say it, running out of energy. I have no problem now, obviously, I knew it already for longer that I will have to announce it at one point, but I am absolutely fine now. I know that I cannot do the job again and again and again and again.

“After the years we had together and after all the time we spent together and after all the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least I owe you is the truth – and that is the truth.

“I told the club already in November. I have to explain a little bit that maybe the job I do people see from the outside, I’m on the touchline and in training sessions and stuff like this, but the majority of all the things happen around these kind of things. That means a season starts and you plan pretty much the next season already.

“When we sat there together talking about potential signings, the next summer camp and can we go wherever, the thought came up, ‘I am not sure I am here then anymore’ and I was surprised myself by that. I obviously start thinking about it.

“It didn’t start [then], but of course last season was kind of a super-difficult season and there were moments when at other clubs probably the decision would have been, ‘Come on, thank you very much for everything but probably we should split here, or end it here.’ That didn’t happen here, obviously.

“For me it was super, super, super-important that I can help to bring this team back onto the rails. It was all I was thinking about. When I realised pretty early that happened, it’s a really good team with massive potential and a super age group, super characters and all that, then I could start thinking about myself again and that was the outcome. It is not what I want to [do], it is just what I think is 100 per cent right.

“We will have a moment, maybe the last matchday here or somewhere else – I mean in other countries or other competitions. There’s enough time to do these kinds of things. Let’s now really go for it. The outside world want to use this decision, laugh about it, want to disturb us.

“We are Liverpool, we went through harder things together. And you went through harder things before me. Let’s make a strength of it. That would be really cool. Let’s squeeze everything out of this season and have another thing to smile about when we look back in the future.”

Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool

11:14 , Marc Mayo

Good morning.

Who saw that coming?!

An incredibly well-kept secret has finally broken out of Anfield with the news that Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

The bombshell news has taken Premier League football by complete surprise.

Join us for all the reaction, latest news and updates as attention turns to Liverpool's search for a successor.

Read the full story!