Klopp's Last Dance begins in style as rampant Reds storm into FA Cup fifth round
THE LAST DANCE has started with a meteoric rise to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Championship midtable Norwich were not allowed to put down banana peels at Anfield.
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It was easy to forget what the ultimate goal of this afternoon was about.
In fact, it was Anfield that began the long farewell to one of their own.
A man who put them back in their place with the Premier League title and the Champions League.
That's why 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was released with extra enthusiasm on this occasion.
Because it was Jurgen Klopp sitting with his head down on the Liverpool bench trying to hold back the tears, many in the crowd struggled to do the same.
Witnessing this admiration makes you wonder why anyone would want to walk away from it.
Of this club, of the work and foundations he has laid to achieve the success he has and now leaves for his successor.
But when the bombshell announcement came on Friday that he would be leaving at the end of the season, he simply looked devastated.
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This great football club can give so much, but by golly, the sheer scale and emotion of it all can also take it away.
It was golfer Nick Faldo who once famously talked about 'Life Energy' and how we all only have a limited amount.
He believed it was the effort to recover from a five-shot deficit to beat Greg Norman for his third Masters in 1986 and the sixth and final Major finished him off.
The intensity of the challenge Klopp faced with Pep Guardiola on the road has also worked for him.
It was perhaps fitting that on this occasion he faced his old Mainz teammate and best man at his wedding, David Wagner.
Before kick-off, they were chatting in the tunnel while Klopp rested against the wall.
As he followed his players through the tunnel, it looked like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders and he wondered how he would move without it.
He was desperate to emphasize in TV interviews before kick-off that his announcement had been made and he is now back at work.
No, it cannot be looked at that way in the future.
The bizarre timing of the announcement means every match and result will be judged on that basis.
Any emotion on the sidelines will be seen as an attitude to prove that the old fire still burns as strong.
In reality he has gone out, you could tell that to the fans with his video on Friday.
It is now up to the players he has given so much to get him across the finish line.
A row behind which there could be more silverware.
Let's not forget that the nine years haven't exactly been productive and a few more trophies would be welcome.
Three Champions League finals are admirable, but he only brought the trophy back to Merseyside once.
Compare that to three out of three for Bob Paisley… why was he never knighted?
There is that one title, although there may be an asterisk next to second place in 2018/19 and 2021/22 if Manchester City lose on the football pitch.
Throw in an FA Cup, a League Cup, a World Club Cup and a Super Cup and it's a fair achievement.
But it would be fitting to leave more in Anfield's trophy room.
There is a Carabao Cup final to look forward to against Chelsea.
They are now in the last eight and there is the Europa League.
But actually the title alone would be a fitting farewell for the current leaders.
The importance of this competition has long waned, as the atmosphere at a rather subdued Anfield told us.
The line-ups saw five changes at Liverpool and six at Norwich.
Wagner's Canaries were poor opponents and constantly gave the ball away.
Liverpool took the lead after 16 minutes when Curtis Jones headed in a header from a fine ball on his first start from 19-year-old James McConnell.
Norwich got a shock equalizer on 22 minutes when Gabriel Sara whipped in a corner that looked past the back of Ben Gibson and flew home.
Liverpool took the lead again after 28 minutes, while Norwich were sloppy.
Sam McCallum lost the ball halfway down the left and Liverpool departed. Conor Bradley's final ball found Darwin Nunez, who smashed the ball home.
After 53 minutes the game was over when Gibson could only head a long ball and Diogo Jota volleyed home.
Klopp made three substitutions in the second half and two of them made for four substitutions, with captain Virgil Van Dijk heading home a header from Dominik Szoboszlai's corner.
Norwich pulled one back when an own substitute struck the match goal, while Dorja sent Sainz flying with a screamer from 25 yards.
In injury time, Ryan Gravenberch headed home from close range to complete the afternoon score.
So Liverpool go on to face Watford or Southampton here at Anfield.
But this really wasn't about victory or the next round draw.
As much as the manager didn't want it, this was all about Klopp and it will remain that way from now until May.