Ronnie Whelan: Liverpool are back on track

Liverpool legend Ronnie Whelan believes the Reds could be on the verge of something special thanks to Jürgen Klopp.

The former Anfield favourite thinks the German boss has made the Reds look like a side capable of challenging again and despite there being false dawns in the past, Whelan thinks this time it’s different.

Writing for The Herald, Whelan said: “For the first time in many, many years, I feel like Liverpool football club is back on track.

“There were islands of success during the last few decades but at no stage did I think: ‘Right, this is the start of something big’.

“At no stage could I see a future in which the club could even hope to keep pace with the money washing around Manchester, London, Paris, Barcelona or Madrid.

“But I’m feeling that now, and it’s all down to Jürgen Klopp.”

He added: “We’ve been schooled to expect the worst over many, many years and usually bad has followed good. Defeat by Burnley is the case in point this season.

“But this was different. After Liverpool, quite literally, blew Chelsea away in the first half, and when Costa scored, I was bracing myself for the inevitable collapse.

“But Chelsea, with their tails up and searching for an equaliser and maybe a winner, hardly troubled Simon Mignolet after they scored. Matip and Dejan Lovren took hold of Diego Costa and never gave him an inch.

“At one point, I found myself sitting back in my seat and thinking that Liverpool were coping nicely and the hard core of anxiety which usually accompanies the final moments of a game poised like this one, melted away.”

With Liverpool having been made 2nd favourites to win the league behind wealthy rivals Manchester City, does he think the Reds can pull it off?

“My tip for the title is still Manchester City – if anything, that prediction has hardened,” said Whelan. “But I now think that Liverpool will be a challenger and I must admit, I didn’t believe that four weeks ago.”

During his Liverpool career (1979 – 1994) Whelan won 6 League titles, 3 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 5 Charity Shields, 1 Super Cup and 1 European Cup.