Jurgen Klopp’s 1st Lineup as Liverpool Manager: Where are the Players Now?

Jurgen Klopp will leave a large vacuum after he quits Liverpool at the end of the current season. During his time at Anfield, Klopp built a side containing the likes of Allison Becker, Virgil Van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah that won every domestic honor and left teams in its wake. The Reds won the PL title in 2019/20 with a staggering 99 points. But Klopp’s current Liverpool side is a far cry from his first starting XI back in 2015.

His first XI as the Liverpool manager included a few stars like Philippe Coutinho. In this article, we look at the players who were a part of that same lineup and where they are now. It all began vs. Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on October 17, 2015.

Jurgen Klopp’s first Liverpool XI- Where are they now?

In his first interview as the Reds manager, he candidly stated, “The Premier League is one of the most difficult leagues in the world because five, six, even seven teams can win; in the end, only one can be the champion.” Since then, Klopp has built a legacy- leading the club to a PL and UCL title each, topping the league table with 99 points in 2019/20. However, he had to build it from scratch, transforming a decent team into a title-winning one. Here is a look at his first starting XI at Liverpool and where are they now.

Simon Mignolet, Goalkeeper

The Belgian goalkeeper was the first name on Jurgen Klopp’s first-ever team sheet at Liverpool. He was also a part of the bench in their triumphant journey in the 2019 UEFA Champions League. Mignolet spent six years at Anfield and left the club in 2019 to join Club Brugge, where he still plays a major role.

Nathaniel Clyne, Right Back

Starting his career with Crystal Palace, Clyne moved to Liverpool after a stint at Southampton. He went on to represent the Reds for five years and featured in just under 100 games. Clyne returned to Palace in 2020 and is currently with the South London club.

Martin Skrtel, Center Back

Skrtel joined Liverpool in January 2008 as the then-most expensive defender in the club’s history. He left Jurgen Klopp’s squad as an icon, with 320 games and a League Cup to his name. Skrtel spent eight seasons at the club and moved to Turkish club Fenerbahçe in 2016/17 before spells at Italian side Atalanta and another Turkish team İstanbul Başakşehir.

Skrtel called off his playing days in 2022 after moving back home to Slovakia, where he played for Spartak Trnava.

Mamadou Sakho, Center Back

The 33-year-old Frenchman crossed over 50 appearances with Liverpool joining from Paris St. Germain in 2013. He switched to Crystal Palace in 2017 and spent four years there. He then moved to French Ligue 1 club Montpellier, before moving out from there in November 2023. He is currently without a club.

Alberto Moreno, Left Back

The fullback from Spain joined Liverpool in 2014 and was at the club for five years.  He was Liverpool’s first choice left back but went down the pecking order after the rise of Andy Robertson. Moreno is currently playing for Villarreal in La Liga, whom he joined in 2019. He also had the privilege of lifting the UCL trophy with Klopp and Co. in 2019.

Lucas Leiva, Defensive Midfielder

The Brazilian international spent a massive 10 seasons with Liverpool, making over 200 appearances. He left Anfield for Italian club Lazio in the summer of 2017. He subsequently moved to Brazilian club Gremio, where he played with former Liverpool star Luis Suarez before retiring in 2023.

Emre Can, Defensive Midfielder

Emre Can joined Liverpool head of the 2014/15 season from Bayer Leverkusen. After his contract expired in 2018, he signed for Juventus, In 2020, he went back to Germany and signed for Borussia Dortmund. Can is currently part of the midfield at Dortmund. The player missed out on the Bundesliga title by a whisker last season.

James Milner, Right Wing

Most notable for his leadership, Milner proved to be a vital part of Jurgen Klopp’s success. He played versatile roles for the club, in this case on the right wing. Milner made over 200 appearances for the Reds having joined the club in 2015. During his tenure at the club, he lifted the PL and UCL titles being a key player in both campaigns.

The tenured Englishman now plays for Brighton after moving away from Liverpool in 2023.

Adam Lallana, Attacking Midfielder

Adam Lallana was nothing short of a fan favorite during his tenure at Liverpool. Lallana joined Liverpool from Southampton in 2014 and spent six years at the club. He flourished in Klopp’s first season at the club, but injuries hampered his progress.

Like James Milner, he also now plays for Brighton since exiting Anfield in 2020. He was also part of Liverpool’s PL title-winning squad in 2019/20 as well as the UCL triumph a season before.

Philippe Coutinho, Left Wing

One of their most exciting signings, Coutinho joined Liverpool in 2013 and had an impressive stint at the club. He caught the eyes of FC Barcelona and moved there for a record $167 million signing in 2018. The Brazilian returned to the PL, but this time with Aston Villa in 2022.

Currently, he plays for the club Al Duhail in the Qatar Stars League.

Divock Origi, Forward

Yes, one of the 2019 UEFA Champions League heroes was also part of Jurgen Klopp’s first line-up. Part of many memorable victories and scaringly close last-minute goals for the Reds, the player emotionally bid Anfield adieu in 2021 for AC Milan. Origi spent eight years at Liverpool and scored some iconic goals like the last-minute Merseyside derby winner against Everton and a late goal to famously knock out Barcelona in the 2018/19 UCL season.

He returned to England and joined Nottingham Forest on loan after they were promoted to the PL.

READ MORE – Pep Guardiola Invites ‘Biggest Rival’ Jurgen Klopp for Dinner Date After Liverpool Exit Announcement

Jurgen Klopp’s game against Spurs in 2015 ended in a goalless draw, but it kickstarted a special journey. He subsequently went on to sign players like Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firimino, Fabinho, and many others who led the team to great heights. Liverpool has consistently been the only team to give Pep Guardiola and Co. at Manchester City a tough challenge, thanks to Klopp.

Do you think any player from his first XI, will make it to the current line up?

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