Liverpool face the momentous task of dethroning defending European champions Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Liverpool are making the last-minute preparations for their Champions League final against Real Madrid on Saturday after trumping Roma in the semi-finals, but should the Reds be concerned by Jurgen Klopp’s track record, with the German having lost five of six cup finals in his career to date?
2012 German Cup (Borussia Dortmund 5-2 Bayern Munich) – Win
The Reds’ manager reached his first final back in 2012, when his title winning Dortmund outfit dismantled bitter rivals Bayern Munich 5-2, to lift the German Cup at the Olympic Stadium.
The difference was made on the day by current Bayern talisman Robert Lewandowski, whose hat-trick gave Klopp’s side breathing room on the night.
2013 Champions League (Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich) – Loss
Klopp suffered a hugely disappointing night in 2013’s Champions League final at Wembley just a year later against their familiar foes.
A fantastic spectacle was rounded off by a late Arjen Robben goal, as the Dutch international slotted the ball agonisingly past Roman Weidenfeller.
2014 German Cup (Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Bayern Munich) – Loss
The German coach’s rivals inflicted their final defeat on the the BVB in 2014’s German Cup final. Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians exacted their revenge for a league 3-0 league defeat just two weeks earlier in the Olympic Stadium, scoring two in added time through Robben and Thomas Muller after a goalless 90 minutes.
2015 German Cup – (Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Wolfsburg) – Loss
Klopp was denied a fairy-tale ending with his previous club, after his seventh placed Dortmund outfit fell at the hands of a resurgent Wolfsburg side.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got the team off to a great start, netting within five minutes, however, it proved futile as a burgeoning Kevin De Bruyne put Wolfsburg into the lead shortly after Luis Gustavo’s equaliser. Bas Dost would eventually put the nail in the coffin.
2016 Capital One Cup – (Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City) – Loss on penalties
The 50-year-old’s first opportunity to win silverware with the Reds came just four months into his debut season at the helm, as they faced a Manchester City outfit led by current West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Liverpool were touted as favourites to come away with the trophy on the day – having trumped the Citizens 4-1 earlier in the season, but their opponents proved far stronger at Wembley, and eventually came out 3-1 victors on penalties.
2016 Europa League – (Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla) – Loss
Liverpool landed themselves a brilliant opportunity to lift the Europa League trophy, having beaten Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund on their way to the final of the competition. However, Daniel Sturridge’s emphatic strike was cancelled out by a second-half collapse.
The now Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro equalled the scoring within 20 seconds of the second half whistle, before Coke’s brace inside six minutes ended the competition.
History does not bode particularly well for Liverpool’s chances in Kiev, that is for sure.
However, there’s no denying Liverpool have come on absolute leaps and bounds in terms of both personnel and performance since their defeat against Sevilla. It is simply down to Klopp to execute a game-plan capable of getting the Reds hands raised when the final whistle blows.
He will not want the stain on his name to grow any further.
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