While Liverpool play in Lisbon for the first time since 2010 on Tuesday, it has its significance in the tale of Jurgen Klopp’s time at Anfield.
His sabbatical after leaving Borussia Dortmund in 2015, included a family break in the Portuguese capital where he received the call that would change his life and Liverpool’s history. A stunning season could yet end in an unprecedented quadruple but they were labouring in 10th in the Premier League when Brendan Rodgers was sacked.
“We were completely in the holiday mood but there were some rumours around,” Klopp said ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
“With two sons around, they pick up pretty much everything and I knew from them a little bit that a couple of things could happen. I didn’t pick up a lot of phone calls at that time because my family was around so why should I talk to anybody?
"But it was my agent who is my friend as well and when he said Liverpool were calling, the boys were looking at me. In that moment for them the decision was made. [His wife] Ulla then had to put the thumbs up. It just felt right from the first second.”
The feeling may be mutual and if Klopp disputed the notion that things could scarcely have gone any better for him on Merseyside, citing defeat in the 2018 Champions League final and the near-miss with the Premier League title the following season, yet the factors stretch beyond silverware.
Liverpool 2-0 Watford
He explained: “I don’t judge my time here about the trophies too much. It is about the way we play and the way we develop. The position the club is in is much more important. At the moment, it is a healthy club in a good situation.”
There was a note of caution and Klopp has long argued it is unlikely they can add the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup to the League Cup. “I know the stories on us are very positive in the moment and rightly so, the boys deserve it, but we all know one failure, one little wrong step and at least one competition can be gone,” he said.
Whether Mohamed Salah will be gone in the summer remains to be seen, but Klopp pronounced himself content with contract talks about his top scorer.
“I am happy because there is nothing new to say, it is good,” he added. “The decisive parties are talking to each other and that is all I need.” Salah has only scored one penalty in his last six appearances but Klopp is unconcerned about his form. “We see him every day in training,” he added. “There is nothing to worry about.”
Liverpool have fewer other concerns with a fully-fit squad – for the first time in his reign, Klopp thought – and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones all available.
The January signing Luis Diaz, who joined from Porto, has briefed Klopp about Benfica, albeit unsuccessfully. “He tried for 10 minutes but I didn’t understand a word,” smiled the Liverpool manager.
“With [coaches] Vitor Matos and Pep Lijnders and [forward] Diogo [Jota] we have enough specialists in Portuguese football but we did analyse [Benfica] anyway.”
Benfica are only third in the Portuguese league but beat Barcelona in their Champions League group and Ajax in the last 16.
Liverpool nevertheless kick off as favourites and Virgil van Dijk said: “We just want to make this season hopefully an unforgettable one.” As he underlined, the Klopp years have become a special time at Anfield, with the malaise of 2015 seeming another era. The defender added: “The things that have been going on at Liverpool are things that no one should take for granted.”
