Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 in the Champions League final on Saturday
Sunday 2 June 2019 14:07, UK
Jurgen Klopp is the most important figure at Liverpool, says Jamie Carragher, with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson the difference in the Champions League final.
Liverpool were 2-0 winners against Tottenham on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah and Divok Origi scoring 85 minutes apart to seal a first trophy for Klopp at the club.
Carragher, who was at the Madrid final, spoke to Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O'Connor and believes 'special manager' Klopp is the most vital man for the Reds.
He said: "I think [Klopp] is the number one at the club. He's the manager of course, but what I mean is he is the most important figure. If you asked me would I rather lose Virgil van Dijk or the manager, I'd say Van Dijk. I think he is a special manager.
"I don't know what his contract situation is but give him a new one and hopefully now, he can push on. He's got that monkey off his back with that first big trophy, first time he's won the Champions League after so many finals without a win.
"Hopefully for him and that set of players, it's not just a one-off. He's always done seven years at his clubs so in 2022 [when Klopp's current contract runs out], it will have been seven years. Let's try and make it 17!
"The next step is to continually compete, as they have done this season, for the Premier League and Champions League. The Premier League is the big one Liverpool want of course, but Man City are such a good side, it's going to be difficult.
"At this moment, Liverpool are well equipped. They've won the Champions League so they're going to be there or thereabouts for most seasons in the competition now and they have to do that in the Premier League, which is something we (the teams Carragher was in) never did enough of. That's what they have to do next season is really push Man City."
While it may have been the two goals that won the trophy for Liverpool, Van Dijk and Alisson were - once again - rocks at the back as Tottenham looked to get themselves back into the game.
Carragher believes the two players were the difference between the teams on the night, and it showed how key signings can influence big games.
He added: "[Van Dijk and Alisson] made the big difference between the teams really. I love Tottenham and the job Mauricio Pochettino has done is brilliant.
"I think for the last eight or nine years, Spurs have finished above Liverpool in the league. The difference is that Liverpool have got the ability to go and change that by buying a goalkeeper for a world-record fee and the best centre-back in the world.
"Tottenham haven't got that, they haven't bought a player for nearly two years so that just shows the job Pochettino has done. That was the difference last night in Liverpool winning that trophy and Spurs not coming out on top because you need those players that will make the difference and they showed it again last night."
Salah exorcised some demons from last season's disastrous Champions League final against Real Madrid by scoring a penalty inside two minutes to send Liverpool on the way to victory.
Jordan Henderson - who also featured in the game 12 months ago - finally got his hands on the trophy and shared a special moment with his father after the game.
Carragher said: "It's fantastic for him. At times, he splits the Liverpool fans, which I think is very unfair, but now he's a European champion.
"One of the greatest images of last night is not just Jordan lifting the cup, but seeing him with his dad at the side of the pitch. I know his dad quite well and what they've been through together, it is a great way for him to end the season having that great moment with his dad.
"It was a massive blow for Liverpool last season (losing Salah, who went off injured after half an hour against Real Madrid).
"I think they would have coped better if they lost Salah or Sadio Mane in the opening moments of the game like last year. Liverpool didn't have the squad and that's why the signings they made in the summer made that big difference. It meant that they could go one step further.
"I'm delighted for Salah. He's had another great season, a lot of people have questioned him at times, but he was never going to have the season he had last season. He was still the top scorer in the Premier League and scored in a Champions League final so he's done alright."
