Jurgen Klopp to leave Liverpool live updates: Reaction to today’s shock announcement and press conference

Another great email, this time from Neil Shine. Thanks for your thoughts, Neil!

💬 “Wow. As a Liverpool fan since 1986, this news feels as seismic as when Kenny Dalglish announced his resignation in 1991. I remember being in the car that day when the news broke on the radio, and even my Mum – who is no football fan – said ‘WHAT?’

“One cannot help but feel that it seems a premature decision; given the two years remaining on his contract; given the plaudits he has been receiving for putting together ‘Liverpool 2.0’; given we are still mid-season. One would have thought he would want to really see through this second iteration of the Liverpool squad, similar to the way Sir Alex Ferguson brought on his various squad rebuilds over the years.

“But one cannot argue being a Premier League manager is an extraordinarily high pressure job, and no-one other than the man himself can assess how much energy he is able to bring to the job. We should perhaps be thankful that he has the self-knowledge and honesty to admit that he is coming to a point where he cannot give it his all any more.

“I am surprised that Pep Lijnders isn’t in the running for the job. If FSG were aiming at providing the players some level of continuity, then he would seems a sensible option. He seems highly-rated by Klopp and has effectively served an apprenticeship under him for several years.

“Finally, one wonders how this will affect the playing squad. Will the players kick on and try to send Klopp off in a blaze of trophy laden glory? Or will they crumble due to the distraction of the inevitable speculation on who will be next through the door?

“So many unknowables! I hope that we get many positive answers in the coming weeks and months.”