Klopp's Last Sunday

Anfield Grand Departure

It was a warm May day and Jurgen Klopp's final game as the manager of Liverpool. It has been a crazy eight and a half years since he arrived at Anfield. I had recently loaded an app to follow the flight path of planes, and it allowed me to watch his flight into Liverpool on an October day in 2015. This followed the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, who had always flattered to deceive. Klopp's plane was to land at John Lennon Airport but the app showed that he continued to head for Anfield where the plane dropped in altitude and looped around the ground before heading back to the airport. A gesture that told me he was genuine, someone who would be a fan as well as a coach and manager. In his 491 games in charge, he has won a higher percentage of games, 60.9% than anyone else including Kenny Dalglish, Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly. His teams also scored the most goals per game (2.1) than any other manager. These statistics mattered less than the sheer joy of watching his teams terrify their opponents with pace and pressing. 

I had gone to Gregor's to watch the game on Sky,  I have steadfastly refused to buy anything owned or part owned by Rupert Murdoch, it is the prize exhibit in my boycott portfolio. Before the game, we went to Mugdock Park, it was overflowing with hundreds of visitors and we found the last space in the overflow car park. Emily was playing in her band, we found seats in the parkland adjacent to the bandstand and baked slowly in the summer heat until it was time to retreat to the TV. 

As a spectacle, Liverpool's 2-0 win over Wolves was not that exciting. It was the send-off afterwards that captured the mood of the players and the fans told you that this was the end of an amazing feelgood era, Klopp doesn't do special and he spent the hour after the game cuddling players, and their families, the staff and members of the crowd whom he passed. The caption on his T-shirt 'I will never walk alone', matched the occasion and was a mark of the man. Almost as good as the name of the Chinese takeaway cafe next to Anfield -'Wok On'. 

It had been a long watch so Gregor and I went for a walk in the nearby countryside on a sparkling evening. After spending time watching the red squirrels play in the massive pine trees we charged through long grass and an oak forest to find the splendid Dualt Spout, a waterfall that is a hidden gem screened from the public by the absence of any paths. The only downside is that I am picking ticks off my body two days later. A Gusto meal and rhubarb crumble at 9pm completed the day. It was still light as I arrived home at 10:30pm.

Mugdock Pond

Spot the red squirrel

Dualt Spout