VIEW FROM THE KOP: Anfield bid an emotional farewell to Jurgen Klopp as blue skies and sunshine welcomed Merseyside… a fitting send-off for the man who made Liverpool feel alive again

It was a cold, gray afternoon in October 2015 when Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool. So perhaps it was fitting that cloudless blue skies and sunshine greeted Merseyside for his final match as Liverpool manager. A pathetic mistake in a word. He brought this club back to life.

The streets around Anfield were like a pre-match festival with masses in shorts and sunglasses. As fans from all over lined up to take photos with the various Klopp murals that now fill this city, smoke from the red rockets that have become synonymous with Liverpool’s success seeped into the air.

Outside the Kop, the famous Esso garage was packed hours before kick-off. It was the mother of all farewell parties. For once, no one really cared about football on this famous old ground.

On The Kop, the dozens of flags told their own “skeptical” story. Believers. Conquerors. Three words that sum up what Klopp has done for nine years here. “Danke Jurgen, you made people happy,” read another. A special mosaic around the floor simply reads “Danke Jurgen”. YNWA.’

The entire Anfield playbook is out with songs for the stars of Klopp’s tenure – both present and past. From Sadio Mane and Robert Firmino to Georginio Wijnaldum and of course Divock Origi.

Anfield was flooded with flags from supporters who wanted to highlight their adoration for the German.

Klopp arrived at the club in October 2015 during a particularly low ebb in its recent history.

Klopp’s name was chanted for most of the match before the short thank you in his honor after the final whistle.

There is another song, created in the 1980s, which says: “A team that plays the Liverpool way and wins the championship in May.”

It was Klopp who left those fans singing again when he led Liverpool to their first title in 30 years and, fittingly, it provided the backdrop to Alexis Mac Allister’s goal. A beautiful header which concludes a movement which sums up the style of football that Klopp made his Liverpool team play.

As the full-time whistle approached, young children from across the Kop descended below to get the best possible view of the man their parents and grandparents will talk about for decades.

Only with time will Klopp’s lasting legacy be truly determined.

In and around Klopp’s love, from time to time, Anfield blared Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”, singing “Every little thing will be alright”.

The fact is, it’s Liverpool. They will compete again and almost certainly win again. But they will never see a man like Klopp again. At least on this point there was mutual agreement between everyone.

So, will Liverpool and The Kop be okay without Klopp?

“For some reason it doesn’t feel like an end, just a beginning because today I saw a football team full of talent, belief, youth, creativity and desire,” insisted Klopp . “This club is in a better period than in a long time. No one is telling you now to stop believing.

A number of first-team players and staff also had the opportunity to bid farewell to Liverpool fans on Sunday. Pictured (assistant manager Pep Lijnders and defender Joel Matip)

Klopp implored supporters to channel their energy towards the new manager and the team next season.

“We have you, the superpower of world football,” he added, looking at The Kop. Enough said.

And then the whole Liverpool team stood united in front of The Kop, just as Klopp had done in December 2015 after a 2-2 draw against West Brom, two months after his arrival. People then laughed. No one in the football world was laughing anymore.