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Liverpool fans should make the most of Sunday. Finals will be rarer after Klopp

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FOR everyone involved with Liverpool, this is probably the best thing to happen for a while – and I think they all know it.

The Reds will be without Jurgen Klopp next season, and they could also do so without Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

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It will be difficult to emulate the golden era under Jurgen KloppCredit: PA
Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk have also been crucial for Liverpool

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Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk have also been crucial for LiverpoolCredit: Richard Pelham/The Sun

Trying to replace Salah will be like replacing three players. Meanwhile, Van Dijk is not only one of the best central defenders in the world, but also an excellent leader.

With only a year left on his contract, Van Dijk could leave and will be virtually impossible to replace.

I also don’t think Liverpool can tempt Xabi Alonso to Anfield.

Alonso has the choice between Bayern Munich or Liverpool and I think he will choose Bayern because he will have greater financial strength there and will not have to face such a big rebuild.

Liverpool do not have the money or the pulling power to attract the very best in the world. Klopp wanted Jude Bellingham last summer, but didn’t get him.

That kind of thing could be one of the reasons why Klopp has decided to call it quits this season.

It must be tiring to have to compete with Manchester City year in and year out when you don’t have the same financial level.

The same was true for Klopp when he was boss of Borussia Dortmund and tried to compete with Bayern. You can only keep trying for so long.

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Still, it feels like Klopp’s announcement that he is leaving at the end of the season has a galvanizing effect.

The number of injuries they have suffered recently is phenomenal and the way they have continued to win is extraordinary.

Mauricio Pochettino aims for first trophy under Todd Boehly as Chelsea face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final

It feels like this is a team of players who know this is the end of an era and are determined to squeeze every last drop out of the season.

Klopp’s side are chasing four trophies and the first is up for grabs against Chelsea in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Ask me for a prediction and I want to see Liverpool’s starting line-up first.

Unless Klopp has two or three of his best players back from injury, I think Chelsea are doing it stealthily.

Those injuries will be a major concern at Anfield. In this age of sports science, there has to be a reason for everything.

No one wants to believe that something could just be a coincidence. No one in football wants to believe in luck, good or bad. Elite clubs employ so many people that they think they can eradicate happiness.

Klopp will demand answers from his medical department.

There’s an ‘us against the world’ mentality at Anfield – and it’s working.

He will want to know if there are any small changes in training schedules, preparation, diet, or anything that could be a reason why so many players are on the treatment table.

It’s hard enough having Liverpool players in your fantasy football team at the moment, so imagine you’re Klopp. There’s an ‘us against the world’ mentality at Anfield – and it’s working.

It also helps that Liverpool’s youth academy is so strong and that Klopp is never afraid to donate blood to young people.

Conor Bradley has really stepped up in recent weeks, while Bobby Clark looks a good player. But in a Wembley final, the Liverpool boss will not want to rely on children.

I love Chelsea. If they deploy Ivan Toney up front this summer and a centre-back to replace Thiago Silva, they could be real contenders next season.

Winning the Carabao Cup would be a big step for Mauricio Pochettino as he looks to build a young team.

But every Liverpool player and supporter must suspect that the Wembley final could be very difficult to achieve if Klopp is gone.

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