Liverpool's salvation, Klopp now knows the secret to winning the Champions League, Real Madrid tremble

Last summer's spectacular 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Community Shield sparked euphoria. Liverpool started the season strong. Vigorous. Jurgen Klopp's eighth project started with the feeling of being able to repeat the (almost) feat of the 2021-2022 season. The 'Pool' had come close to an unprecedented poker last season: they won the Cup and the League Cup, came within a point of snatching the Premier League from Guardiola's City and lost to Real Madrid (0-1) in the Champions League final. Another excellent season for the Anfield club. Today, not so long after that thrashing of the Sky Blues, Los Blancos' next opponents in the Champions League are heading in the opposite direction. In freefall and with the press and fans debating for the first time whether the German coach should remain at the helm of the Reds' machinery.

"I don't think he will be sacked, but who knows. We have different types of owners. Ours are more laid back and expect me to take this situation forward. The day they change their mind they will tell me," said Klopp, alluding to Thomas Tuchel's sacking at Chelsea that season. Interestingly, Betfair oddsmakers have Tuchel himself as one of the best-placed candidates to be the next Reds manager, with odds of 5.0. The first candidate is Pepjin Lijnders, Klopp's Dutch assistant.

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The reality is that Liverpool could be out of the Champions League for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. That year saw the arrival of Klopp in October 2015 and he managed to save the club from not playing in Europe with an agonising Europa League qualification. Since then, Liverpool have qualified season after season for the Champions League and won the top continental title again. Now, ninth, ten points off the Champions League places, all signs point to a return to pre-Klopp times. The situation is very delicate. So say the betting odds. According to Betfair odds, Liverpool qualifying for the top four pays 3.2€ per euro bet and is far from the odds of the top four: Arsenal (1.01), Manchester City (1.02), Manchester United (1.14) and Newcastle (1.67).

The 2005 effect

At least history offers a glimmer of hope. The '2005 effect' could be titled the cabal at Anfield that believes there is still time to turn things around. In the 2004-2005 season, Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League, 37 points behind the leaders but won the European Cup with Rafa Benítez in the dugout. The current season has similar records and who knows if the old continent is Klopp's salvation as it was that year. The Reds are already out of the FA Cup and League Cup, but Real Madrid await in the Champions League. According to Betfair oddsmakers, Liverpool qualify at €1.9 per euro bet and are odds-on for Liverpool to qualify, an unusual draw in the odds.