21 January 2024 , 09:00
1070
0
The fourth time turned out to be the charm for Jurgen Klopp as he began his reign as Liverpool manager way back in 2015.
After a goalless stalemate at Tottenham in his first match in charge, the Reds played out successive 1-1 draws against Rubin Kazan in the Europa League and then Southampton at home in the Premier League, when a certain Sadio Mane grabbed a late equaliser for the visitors.
Next up was Bournemouth at Anfield in the League Cup, and Klopp was finally able to deliver a 1-0 victory for his new side thanks to an unlikely source.
Almost eight-and-a-half years later, and as the Reds prepare to face Bournemouth again, here's a reminder of Klopp's first winning Reds XI:
Goalkeeper: Adam Bogdan
Simon Mignolet had kept goal for each of Klopp's first three matches, but the new boss took this opportunity to take a look at Bogdan, who had been a surprise Brendan Rodgers signing from Bolton that summer.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
He'd saved three penalties to win a shootout against Carlisle in the previous round, but he'd play just four more games for the Reds after this clean sheet, and after spells with Wigan, Hibernian and Ferencvaros in his native Hungary, he's now a free agent at 36.
Defence: Nathaniel Clyne
Nathaniel Clyne scored his first goal for Liverpool to deliver Jurgen Klopp's first win (Getty)The unlikely goalscoring hero on the night, full-back Clyne - who usually played on the right but was on the left here - scored the only goal of the game to deliver the Reds a victory and a place in the next round.
It was the first of two goals in 103 Liverpool appearances, with the latter part of his Reds career blighted by injuries and the emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Now 32 he's still going strong in the Premier League with Crystal Palace.
Defence: Kolo Toure
Liverpool's captain on the night, Toure had been a shrewd free transfer arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2013 and played his part in the Liverpool side that went close to the title that season.
A useful player for Klopp as he adapted to English football, this was his final season with the Reds before a brief spell at Celtic with Rodgers, with whom he worked as a coach in Glasgow and at Leicester. After a brief spell as Wigan boss last season he's waiting for his next managerial opportunity.
Defence: Dejan Lovren
Seen as one of the expensive signings who didn't work out as the Rodgers reign unravelled, the Croatian was still nonetheless one of the more gifted centre-backs Klopp had to choose from, on his day anyway.
He'd go on to score a famous winner against Borussia Dortmund later this season before sticking around for four more campaigns and picking up the Champions League and Premier League. Now 34, he's back at former club Lyon via a spell at Zenit Saint Petersburg, and reached the 2018 World Cup final.
Defence: Connor Randall
Randall played the first of eight games for Liverpool in the 1-0 win (Getty Images)The local lad made his senior debut for the Reds here, in the first of what would be seven appearances that season as Klopp took a good look at him.
His Liverpool career wouldn't last though, and after loans with Hearts and Rochdale he made a surprise move to Bulgaria, but has now found a home at Scottish side Ross County where he's been since 2020.
Midfield: Joe Allen
A staunch favourite of Rodgers, the Welshman set out to prove himself to Klopp having been a relatively key figure in each of the previous three seasons.
Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster
He still figured fairly frequently for the German, playing 37 times that season, scoring a late equaliser against Arsenal and playing a key role in the Europa League run, but after excelling for Wales at Euro 2016 Liverpool cashed in by selling him to Stoke, from where he moved on to first club Swansea City in 2022.
Midfield: Cameron Brannagan
One of the leading lights in the Liverpool youth ranks at the time, Manchester-born midfielder Brannagan had broken through under Rodgers and was tipped for big things.
He'd play nine times that season but that would be that though, and after a loan at Fleetwood the following year he'd move on to Oxford United in 2017. Seven years and over 250 appearances later, he's still there.
Midfield: Joao Carlos Teixeira
Teixeira almost scored a stunning winner against Bournemouth (Getty)The Portuguese's Liverpool career burned briefly, but it could have been a whole lot brighter had he scored what have been a remarkable goal here. After being forced out wide he superbly backheeled a shot past goalkeeper Adam Federici which was cleared off the line by Adam Smith, only for Clyne to follow it up and score.
Teixeira scored against Exeter in the FA Cup later in the season, before moving back to Portugal with Porto, Braga and Vitoria Guimaraes, a later spell in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and now, age 30, he's in China with Shanghai Shenhua.
Attack: Jordon Ibe
Seen as Liverpool's big hope following the sale of Raheem Sterling that summer, young winger Ibe was a player who got Reds fans off their seats, and Klopp would use him plenty during a campaign in which he'd play 41 times in all competitions.
The arrivals and emergence of others the following summer would impede his progress though, and he was allowed to join Bournemouth for £15m. He would often show glimpses of what he could do there, but amid struggles with depression he would bravely discuss, he would eventually leave for spells with Derby, Adanaspor in Turkey and Ebbsfleet in the National League, where he plays today.
Attack: Divock Origi
Signed from Lille by Rodgers the previous summer and then immediately loaned back to France, not even Origi would have been able to predict the Reds career that awaited him.
Klopp had spoken about how excited he was to work with the Belgian, but after injury curtailed his impressive performances later this season and he was in and out the following campaign, there looked to be little way back when he joined Wolfsburg on loan the following year. Crucial Champions League and Merseyside derby goals would eventually make him a Reds legend though, and he's now at Nottingham Forest via AC Milan.
Attack: Roberto Firmino
Another who would earn legendary status at Liverpool, the Brazilian had just been left bamboozled by working under Rodgers, who many believe never actually wanted to sign him and at one stage had him playing left wing-back.
He would end up emerging at Klopp's ideal False No.9 though, and would enjoy a storied, trophy-laden Reds career before his move to Saudi Arabia last summer.