Jurgen Klopp’s new deal at Liverpool means the Premier League title-chasers will continue their relentless drive for more trophies, Rio Ferdinand has warned.
In a month when his side could win the top flight and add the Champions League and FA Cup to their EFL Cup triumph, hugely successful Klopp has agreed a new contract to keep him at Anfield until 2026 – and Ferdinand fears that is bad news for Liverpool’s rivals.
Ferdinand told BT Sport: ‘You just think, “it’s another four years of having to watch this, of Liverpool being successful and sustaining this momentum that they’re on, their dominance.”
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Manager Jurgen Klopp (front) has agreed a contract that will keep him at Liverpool until 2026
Rio Ferdinand (second from left) expects Liverpool to continue to be formidable under Klopp
‘As a football man who loves football, you’re delighted to see someone like him because he’s a great character, a great personality.
‘What he is, first and foremost, is a fantastic manager who’s created a culture and team built for long-term success. Yes, I’m an ex-Man United player, but good luck to him.’
Liverpool struggled to establish themselves as sustained contenders until Klopp began transforming the club following his appointment in October 2015.
Former England defender Ferdinand won six Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester United between 2002 and 2014.
The last of those Premier League wins, in 2013, remains United’s most recent league title – and the Red Devils will be at least 24 points behind Liverpool when Brentford visit for the final league game of the season at Old Trafford on Monday.
Klopp took his side to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle in his first game in charge since signing the deal
Klopp led Liverpool to the Champions League in 2019 and their first Premier League crown in 30 years the following season, although he had hinted that he could bring his glorious reign to an end when his previous contract was due to end in 2024.
Keeping Klopp for at least four more years is a huge boost for Liverpool – and Ferdinand says the former Borussia Dortmund manager’s results are a reflection of raising the bar.
Ferdinand said: ‘He puts extreme demands on every single player in this squad. If you think you can walk into this team and feel, “I’ve got such ability that I can be a luxury”, you’re going to be mistaken.
‘He won’t accept that. It’s as important that no player in that team will accept that from any individual. That’s a great culture to have, to start with. It’s a real success for them.’
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League match at Newcastle on Saturday, Klopp said his contract renewal had been intended as a show of stability.
Klopp added: ‘It was not like a long negotiation or whatever. It was the right decision and the right decisions don’t take long. That’s why we came to an agreement pretty quickly.’