This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
James Pearce has hit back at Danny Mills’ criticism of Jurgen Klopp’s trophy haul, citing five reasons why the German deserves more credit.
Former Manchester City man Mills angered Liverpool fans this week by suggesting that Klopp does not belong in the conversation with Liverpool’s greatest managers due to the fact he has only won one major trophy.
Pearce though, who covers the Reds for The Athletic, tweeted a comprehensive list of five reasons why the criticism is unfair.
It’s a ridiculous thing for him to say mate. Trying to create a debate where there really isn’t one. For a start it’s two trophies, plus three other finals, #LFC’s highest ever points total, three successive top-four finishes and the longest winning league run in club’s history.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) October 9, 2019
Spot on
There’s nothing like some cold hard facts to put a pundit in their place.
Pearce’s point about the UEFA Super Cup was quickly dismissed by Mills, who claimed it is no better than the Community Shield.
As Pearce points out however, the Reds have also come incredibly close to significantly increasing that trophy haul.
The League Cup final in 2016 was lost on penalties, the Europa League final that same year was lost due to some horrific defending from Alberto Moreno, who is no longer at the club, and who knows what would have happened in Kiev in 2018 had Mohamed Salah not picked up that shoulder injury?
Klopp’s side of course racked up 97 points last season as well, a club-record, while his three consecutive top-four finishes are a far cry from the horrific depths the team had stooped to before his arrival – Brendan Rodgers achieved Champions League qualification at Anfield just once.
The former Borussia Dortmund boss has completely transformed the red half of Merseyside, and Pearce’s response to what was a rather strange dig is absolutely spot on.
