While it has all been doom and gloom around Liverpool during the nightmarish season they are currently having, it would a welcome change of a pace to rank their 5 best players during the Jurgen Klopp era.
Despite there being no denying that the Reds have seriously underwhelmed this campaign, that does change the fact that they have been one of the best teams in the world over the past couple of years, with some of their stalwarts deserving a special mention.
Ranking the 5 best Liverpool players in the Klopp era
5. Alisson ends up at 5th amongst the best Liverpool players under Klopp
After the Merseyside-based club were sitting head in hands after a Lorius Karius horror show in the Champions League final in 2018, the club decided to bring in Alisson Becker from the record-fee they received by selling Philippe Coutinho and as they say, the rest is history.
No list that excludes the Brazilian No.1 as one of the best 5 players at Liverpool during the reign of Jurgen Klopp is worth reading.
From Alisson’s enviable ball-playing ability to his superhuman shotstopping ability, the man transformed the side as a whole, elevating their entire system and virtually guaranteeing his genius in 1v1 situations.
Especially after the 2021/2022 campaign where the 30-year-old put on one of the greatest individual goalkeeping seasons in Premier League history, Alisson has to be in our list for the 5 best Liverpool players in the Jurgen Klopp era, with Jamie Carragher calling him the best goalkeeper in the country.
4. Trent Alexander-Arnold: The most unique right-back the Premier League has ever seen
While the Premier League has seen full-backs that can bomb forward and wreak havoc, none of them have been elite playmakers in the same vein as Trent Alexander-Arnold. Unfortunately for the academy graduate, his partner-in-crime and club legend, Andy Robertson, who he called ‘outstanding’ via Liverpool Offside misses out.
Considering the Reds usually fielded a workmanlike midfield trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum, it was the England international who was the side’s chief creator and one of the very best in the league from right-back.
As he still continues to shoulder his boyhood club’s creative responsibilities and has done so at a world-class level, Alexander-Arnold is an shoo-in in our list of the 5 best Liverpool players during the Jurgen Klopp era at No.4.
3. Virgil van Dijk finishes 3rd for how he transformed Liverpool
Speaking of players that cannot be excluded in best or top 5 lists at Liverpool under Klopp, we have Virgil van Dijk.
When the Dutchman stepped foot in Anfield, many wondered why the club had broken the bank to secure his services. But instantly, the ex-Southampton colossus showcased his class and transformed a leaky Liverpool defence into the very best in Europe.
If you could build a central defender, you would likely build Virgil van Dijk, which tells you all you need to know about his storied spell at the club, with Trent Alexander-Arnold once going as far as to say that will he go down as one of the very best of all time.
2. Sadio Mane makes it into the top 2 for his unexplainable inevitability
Reds legend Jamie Carragher has previously admitted that Sadio Mane was his absolute ‘favourite’ at Liverpool during the Jurgen Klopp era, despite the names we have already mentioned, which says it all about his incredible impact.
The Senegalese winger’s inevitability was borderline boring in some senses, just because he always had the answers when his teammates struggled to even understand the question posed at them.
And when we’re talking impact, Mane is one of those players that can effect a game without getting a goal or an assist with his supreme dribbling, physical excellence and tireless workrate, which made him such a vital cog to a truly great side.
1. And last but not least, Mohamed Salah takes top spot
There is a case to be made for Mohamed Salah, who was recently lauded by Manchester United icon Eric Cantona via The Times to be classed as the greatest winger in Premier League history, surpassing the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, which sums up his time in English football.
Having Salah anywhere outside even the top 2 in a list including the best 5 Liverpool players under Klopp is criminal.
While many complain about how the Egyptian may sometimes not pass the eye-test and scour for ways to scoff at his greatness, his sheer consistency and the volume of end product he has managed to produce time and again is only worthy of praise.
Barring the ongoing campaign, where the Premier League champion has not been at his brilliant best, albeit not being completely off the pace, it’s key to note that while his other teammates have had seasons where they have huffed and puffed, this man simply has not even once.
Top 2 and he’s not two.
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