The FC that is used to success Liverpool is only playing in Europe this season League, but is considered one of the favorites for the title. That wouldn’t be a consolation prize for coach Jürgen Klopp. He is pleased.
Jürgen Klopp has often been asked recently whether he was responsible for missing qualification for the Champions I’m still very sad about the League. Klopp always laughed and pointed out that he had made it into the Europa League with Liverpool FC last season. And that was after the disorganized course of the season Premier League “absolutely great”.
Klopp is believed to be the same. Whether the owners and bosses of the renowned club from the Anfield Seeing it that way can be doubted. Klopp knows that too. Having missed the Champions League “It doesn’t help in general, but that’s what we brought on ourselves”said the trainer: “It’s stupid for the club because of course the money is earned in the Champions League and it is more or less spent in the Europa League.”
Three finals in six years
The last ones were “Reds” represented in the premier class six times in a row, made it to the final three times and even brought the coveted handle pot to the port city in 2019 – an impressive result.
But now they are competing in the Europa League. Just like its “little brother”, it will be Europe Conference League, often ridiculed as the “wooden class” of European club football.
Klopp: “No consolation prize”
The Europa League is for him “no consolation prize”Klopp said months ago: “But I understand where that comes from.” He was alluding to the fact that they had recently been spoiled for success at Liverpool FC.
“I’m looking forward to the Europa League, I have to say honestly, I’m keen on it”, explained Klopp. He loves European competitions, “And when you play the games, the difference isn’t that big anymore.”
Against Linz, Toulouse and Saint-Gilloise
Oh well. In the group stage, Liverpool will face Linzer ASK from Austria, FC Toulouse from France and Union Saint Gilloise from Belgium.
For fans who like to travel, the games in France and Belgium are particularly interesting, but the whole thing is probably less exciting in terms of sport. Things could have been worse, because the other groups include teams like TSC Backa Topola from Serbia, Rakow Tschenstochau from Poland, Qarabag Agdam from Azerbaijan and BK Häcken from Sweden.
One of the big ones title candidates
Liverpool FC is the heavy favorite in Group E and also one of the top candidates for the title. Also Ajax Amsterdam, Atalanta Bergamo, last year’s finalist AS Roma and Conference League winners West Ham United have their hopes up. Just like Bayer Leverkusen, who at least made it to the semi-finals last season. In any case, these are still the most dazzling names in the competition. SC Freiburg from the Bundesliga is also there.
From a sporting point of view, things get more interesting in the knockout round when the eight “relegated teams” from the Champions League group phase join them. Then maybe it will all feel a little more like the premier class again for Liverpool FC.
Lost against Sevilla FC in 2016
The last time the “Reds” played in the Europa League was in the 2015/16 season. They made it to the final, but then lost to Sevilla FC. Back then he was almost unbeatable in this competition. It was Jürgen Klopp’s first season at Liverpool FC. Maybe that’s why he’s so excited about it. Incidentally, the club has never won the Europa League, the previous competition, the UEFA Cup, but three times – most recently in 2001.
On paper, the chances aren’t bad. The LFC is still unbeaten in the Premier League this season and has recently won four times in a row. And should the “Reds” actually be in in May 2024 Dublin win the title, all questions about missing qualification for the Champions League will be forgotten.