'He hated how they focused on money' - Fowler explains why Klopp rejected Utd

Former England striker and the Liverpool fans Robbie Fowler thinks the evolution of this current Reds team says so much about Klopp as a ­manager.

To have the faith, the belief and the understanding of the club to set a four-year plan – as he did – and deliver it shows his ­mettle.

"I am a big fan of Brendan Rodgers and, under him, I think Liverpool were potentially on the rise again, but Klopp has taken them to a totally different level."

"What I like about him, is that he BELIEVED he could."

"I did an interview with him a couple of years ago and he told me he turned down a couple of super-rich clubs after Dortmund – one of them was definitely ­Manchester United, the other probably Real Madrid – because he hated how they were focused solely on ­commercial influences.

"He said he liked Liverpool because they had a balance between the money needed to reach the top and the ­history and identity of the club and their fans.

"He also said he backed himself to make Anfield great again, even without the riches of the super-elite in world football – that he could do it another way. He's not there yet, but he has certainly given Liverpool fans their ­belief back – and their pride too. I have witnessed that.