After a horrible start to the 2022-2023 Premier League season, Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to run riot at Anfield Stadium when newly promoted Bournemouth visited the match venue on Saturday, August 27, 2022.
Liverpool managed to score four goals in their last three Premier League matches before the game against Bournemouth in which they thrashed their visitors 9-0 to relaunch themselves into contention for the league title.
Before now, Liverpool fans were panicking that coach Jurgen Klopp would struggle with the team after recording two draws and a defeat in the club’s first three Premier League games of the season.
The height of the worry was when Liverpool traveled to Old Trafford to face the then struggling Manchester United on August 22 and United used the Reds to grab their first three points of the season. Before the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, Liverpool had suffered a 2-2 draw against Fulham and a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.
Jurgen Klopp and the curse on his seventh season in charge of clubs
Liverpool’s poor run of games in this season’s first three matches invoked the speculation that there is a curse on Jurgen Klopp’s seventh year at every club he manages. Note that Klopp has been the coach of Liverpool since 2015 which means that he is currently in his seventh season at the club.
Before taking on the managerial role at Liverpool, Klopp made his name at German Bundesliga club Mainz. After enjoying a heroic six seasons at the club, Klopp led the team to relegation in the seventh season. He tried to help the team to regain promotion but couldn’t before he resigned.
Klopp also became an icon at Borussia Dortmund in his first six years in charge of the German Bundesliga club. In his first six years, he helped Dortmund to win the Bundesliga title and played in the UEFA Champions League final. But in the 7th year, things went so bad that Dortmund found themselves at the bottom of the league table.
The club was patient enough to allow Jurgen Klopp to end the season as he managed to push the team to the 16th spot, 11 points above the relegation zone before the season ended.
Hence, when Klopp failed to make Liverpool win their first three Premier League games this season, his critics thought Klopp’s so-called curse on his seventh season in charge of clubs has revisited. However, the 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth at Anfield on August 27 put on hold the notion.
Also read: Liverpool Thrashed Bournemouth 9-0 To Register Their First Win Of The Season Without Sadio Mane
Full-time scenes at Anfield following today's 9-0 victory 🙌 #LIVBOU pic.twitter.com/VRlpvnFUX5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 27, 2022
After the 9-0 win over Bournemouth, Jurgen Klopp described the victory as “a strange result”, adding that his team needed such a win after a difficult start to the 2022-2023 Premier League season.
“We had to prove a point for us,” said the German tactician. “I loved the start so much, we didn’t hold anything back – putting them under pressure. We got early goals and kept going with the same purpose.
“It was important we kept going. If you let them score one you have a bitter taste on a wonderful afternoon. At 6-0 we could bring on the kids – it was a perfect football afternoon for us.
“We all know we needed something like that. We had bigger chances in other games and did not use them.”
"Great weather and fantastic football!" ☀️
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2022
Jurgen Klopp reacts to his Liverpool side's record equalling 9-0 win over Bournemouth ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jQmmP0Xc1Y
What next for Liverpool?
Though Liverpool fans now have a reason to be happy after the 9-0 bashing of Bournemouth on August 27, the war is not over, in fact, it just began. For Liverpool to return to being a Premier League title contender this season, they have to maintain the same energy in their subsequent matches.
Hence, on August 31, Jurgen Klopp and his boys would have to prove that their 9-0 win over Bournemouth was not a fluke by defeating Newcastle United handsomely at Anfield. The Premier League game will kick off at 20:00.
After that, Liverpool will have a date with Everton on September 3 and then commence their UEFA Champions League campaign against Napoli on September 7.
If Liverpool continue to win games constantly this season and maintain a spot in the top four as usual, then, one can submit that Jurgen Klopp’s seventh-season curse has been broken or was just a mere coincidence.
