Steven Gerrard calls for a permanent Liverpool tribute to celebrate Jurgen Klopp exit

Steven Gerrard has called for Liverpool to build a statue in Jurgen Klopp’s honour, insisting the outgoing manager deserved to be officially recognized for his achievements at Anfield.

Klopp will take charge of his final match as manager on Sunday when the Reds end their Premier League campaign at home against Wolves. It is expected to be an emotional afternoon as the club says goodbye to a manager who won eight trophies during his time on Merseyside. This includes the Champions League, Premier League and a first-ever Club World Cup.

Gerrard believes Klopp will go down alongside the likes of Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley as some of the most revered coaches of all time at Liverpool and admitted he would “do anything” to have been able to play under the Reds boss in the Premier League.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Gerrard said: “After that first interview, you’re almost shadowboxing in the mirror and you’re thinking: ‘Oh come on then, game on’.”We were invited to represent the first team, myself and Jamie Carragher in an exhibition match in Australia (in 2017).

“Jurgen took the team so we got a small segment of what it’d be like when he’s standing in front of you and he’s giving you the tactics and the plan. And I remember thinking: ‘I would give any amount of money and I would do anything for anyone if I could represent this guy for one year’.”

“That’s what I was thinking when I was sitting in that room. This was a friendly match but I flew into that game like it was a cup final. The biggest thing for me was after the disappointment of 2014 when we had come so close – and I don’t have to mention it again – there was a lot of pain and a lot of hurt [for] myself, my family, obviously a lot of Liverpool fans. And there was a lot of doubt after that and a lot of painful times.”

“I just hope to God that there is a statue in the making and I hope it is nearly ready because he deserves that stature at the club. You mention Shankly, Paisley, Fagan, Benitez, all the ones who have won the big prizes at Liverpool, that comes with big pressure and they are very difficult to achieve, those big accolades. He is right up there alongside the best, for sure.”