Jurgen Klopp admits next season would have been 'tricky' if he had stayed at Liverpool - but insists he WILL be back to watch games at Anfield... 'even if the next manager doesn't like it!'

Jurgen Klopp believes that if he had not made the shock decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the club would have struggled next year.

The 56-year-old has just three matches left as the Reds manager after nine years at the helm on Merseyside.

Back in January, Klopp surprised the footballing world by announcing that he would be leaving Liverpool come the end of the current campaign.

It doesn't seem Klopp is going to get the fairytale ending of a Premier League title after a major drop in form from the Reds, and Klopp doesn't think next season would have been any smoother if he was to stay at the club.  

'The football hasn't been great the last few weeks, and as a result you start hearing people say that I look really tired. I'm just old,' said Klopp in an interview with Sky  Sports.

'I'm about being in it 100 per cent until the last day. That was always the plan. I was sure that if I didn't make that decision now, next year it could have been tricky. The thought of picking yourself up for another pre-season, make big decisions.

'For that, you really need to be full of energy. 80 per cent is not enough. That's the truth. It's too much. It's a 24/7 job. Yes, there are more important things in life, but if you really care then it's 24/7.

'I did it for a pretty long time and I knew I couldn't continue to do it at the standard necessary for a club like Liverpool.'

With Klopp in the dugout, Liverpool have won their fair share of domestically. They reigned supreme in the Premier League in 2020, have won the FA Cup, and triumphed twice in the Carabao Cup - including this campaign.

They also won the Champions League in 2019, and in the same year secured  the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.  

Klopp has become a messianic figure to the Liverpool faithful for what he has achieved during his time at the club. 

It's clear that the connection between the fans and Klopp has been formed both ways and the German boss isn't prepared to remove himself from the Reds entirely. 

 'It will be super tough not to be part of it anymore in the way I'm part of it now – because I will stay part of it, I will.

'I will come and watch games, and if whoever is the next manager doesn't like having me in the stands, this time, I couldn't be bothered.'

Liverpool have just two home games left this season and they sit third in the Premier League on 75 points, having already secured Champions League football. 

Although Klopp's farewell is rapidly approaching, it seems a replacement for next season is nearing completion as Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is closing in on the Anfield dugout.

Both Liverpool and Feyenoord have agreed a deal for Slot to succeed Klopp with a £9million compensation package decided.

For now though, Liverpool fans are preparing to say goodbye to Klopp, and his penultimate game at Anfield against Tottenham is the next step  on Sunday.