I heard somewhere this week that Jurgen Klopp should be now treated as a total legend at Liverpool.

Bearing in mind the history of that club, if the supporters are thinking of him in that way it will put him alongside people such as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan etc who in those days won everything in sight.

But it has to be agreed that he has shown since his arrival a huge passion for his club and the game in general.

He hit the headlines this week of course because Liverpool travelled all the way to Turkey to play Chelsea in the first time two English clubs had got to the Super Cup final.

I think our man Ralph Hasenhuttl might have been pleased to see the game went not just to extra-time but to penalties and apparently the teams were still on the pitch at nearly 1am.

With a long journey back as well it was not necessarily the best preparation for their next league game.

Having said that the fact Liverpool were able to celebrate on the pitch afterwards with another trophy will give a good feeling right throughout the squad.

The bad news for them before that match was that their first choice goalkeeper was forced off with an injury before half time in their opening Premier League fixture but another sort of fairy tale occurred because the man who took his place in midweek, Adrian, was only signed in August on a free transfer.

He must have been pleased just to get the contract and probably expected to spend most of the season on the bench but came straight in for the final and was the hero at the end, saving the penalty which won the game.

I did read where one of our players said he thought Liverpool would be easier to play against than Burnley.

While I am sure he was trying to lift the spirits after the surprise scoreline last week, I hope he doesn’t think it will be easy.

Liverpool have never been that sort of team and I am sure that our manager will be getting the right mindset before kick-off.

August was always going to be difficult with Man United soon to come and a derby match in between so a draw at Burnley would have been acceptable.

Let’s hope there is an extra determination and I’m sure the support will be completely behind the team.

  • Sad news this week that a Fleet Street great, Steve Curry, had died.

Steve was one of the group who followed Saints right through our FA Cup run in 1976.

In those days him and his gang were the number two sports writers on the big newspapers because the number one followed the favourites Manchester United.

So you can imagine the delight that they were with the winners.

He was also in the group which turned up at the Potters Heron when Kevin Keegan walked in the door.

Steve remained part of a group of about half a dozen who had an annual dinner every year since they all retired with all the journalists being in their late 70s.

A point was made this week that in those days the media would turn up to the training grounds of clubs and at international training sessions and if they were a bit early they could stand by the pitch, watch the action and have a bit of patter back and forward.

I remember when Steve was covering England, Paul Gascoigne was carrying on a little on the pitch and Steve on the sideline made a comment. Gazza picked the ball up, went over, gave him it and took his pen and notepad off him.

Steve strolled on – I think the defenders let him do it mind – and dribbled past three or four and put it in the net.

Those were the days, but now I believe it is much more difficult for the media to get anywhere near the players or manager, but Steve will always be remembered as being not just a top writer but a very fine and loveable type of man. God bless him.