Jurgen Klopp is the first manager to reach 50 wins with Liverpool in European Cups, after beating LASK 3-1 in the opening match of Group E of the Europa League.
Klopp set a new milestone in his 82nd match in charge of Liverpool in European Cups. The German coach helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2019, finished runners-up in 2018 and 2022, and won the 2019 European Super Cup. He also led Liverpool to the Europa League final in 2016, but lost 1-3 to Sevilla in Basel.
Klopp thanked Liverpool fans after beating hosts LASK Link 3-1 on September 21. Photo: Liverpool FC
Klopp surpassed the record of Rafa Benitez - the coach who won 49 matches on the continental front when leading Liverpool from 2004-2010. Like Klopp, Benitez won a Champions League and a European Super Cup with Liverpool, in 2005.
Bob Paisley won 39 of his 61 games in European competition as Liverpool manager from 1974 to 1983, winning three European Cups. Paisley's predecessor Bill Shankly, meanwhile, led Liverpool to 34 wins from 65 games and their first European trophy, the UEFA Cup (the predecessor of the current Europa League), in 1973.
After the win over LASK, when asked about the new milestone with Liverpool, Klopp jokingly replied: "If there are still 50 wins after the group stage, I will still be Liverpool's most successful coach, but people will hate that. This milestone is great, but I have this achievement because European tournaments now have more matches than before."
At Raiffeisen Stadium on September 21, Liverpool continued their habit of starting slowly when LASK took the lead in the 14th minute thanks to a wonderful volley from Florian Flecker. In the second half, the away team exploded with three goals from Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah to win for the fourth time in six matches this season.
Klopp stressed that Liverpool will not win the Europa League as easily as fans expect. "I know people expect us to go all the way in this tournament. But that will not happen, in the group stage or the knockout round," the German coach said. "Liverpool have to work hard and that is what the whole team did. We have to continue to learn and improve."
Salah scores the winning goal in Liverpool's 3-1 win at LASK Link on September 21. Photo: Liverpool FC
Liverpool made all 11 changes to their starting XI yesterday, including 18-year-old midfielder Ben Doak, new signing Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, and defenders Konstantinos Tsimikas and Stefan Bajcetic.
"The reason Liverpool made these changes is to show that we really want to give our all in the Europa League. I want the squad to be hungry to perform and enjoy the game," the 56-year-old coach explained.
On September 24, Liverpool will play West Ham in the sixth round of the Premier League, then meet Leicester in the third round of the League Cup on September 27, both at home at Anfield.
Hong Duy
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