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Jurgen Klopp’s first five Liverpool games: How will he compare?

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Expectations are high that Jurgen Klopp will make a big impact at Liverpool but history would suggest that the new man at Anfield tends to make a slow start.

The six previous managers to have been appointed by Liverpool in the Premier League era have - in total - lost more games than they have won in their first five matches as boss.

Indeed, Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, in his second spell at the helm, is the only manager to win three of his first five games in sole charge of the team.

In fact, Brendan Rodgers failed to win any of his first five Premier League games as Liverpool manager, scoring four and conceding 10 goals in the process.

Roy Evans and Roy Hodgson each won just one of their first five matches as Liverpool manager, while Rafa Benitez and Gerard Houllier (after a period as joint-boss with Evans) won two apiece.

Liverpool managerial appointments in the Premier League era - first five games
Image: First five Premier League games of Liverpool managers

So will Klopp be able to buck the trend? The fixture list has not been kind to the new man with some tricky games ahead for the German coach.

Klopp travels to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham on Saturday before hosting Southampton the following weekend.

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Then there's a trip to Stamford Bridge to face champions Chelsea, a home game against high-flying Crystal Palace and another away day against league leaders Manchester City.

Corresponding fixtures

In the corresponding fixtures last season, Rodgers' Liverpool did win the first of these two games - away to Spurs and at home against Saints - but none of the remaining three.

As a result, the Reds picked up seven points from the five games in 2014/15 but even that was better than they managed in their title-chasing 2013/14 campaign.

Klopp takes first session
Klopp takes first session

Jurgen Klopp has taken his first training session as Liverpool boss after arriving at Melwood.

Liverpool finished second that season but these fixtures yielded only six points as the Reds were beaten by Southampton before losing back-to-back games at City and Chelsea.

Should Klopp win only two of his first five games, it might be regarded as an underwhelming start to his Liverpool reign.

Lallana excited
Lallana excited

Adam Lallana cannot wait to get to work under new Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

But as we can see, it would not only match the club's results in these games for the past two seasons, it has been bettered by only one of their previous six Premier League bosses.

Given that Benitez went on to deliver a Champions League and Houllier won five trophies in one calendar year, perhaps it's a reminder that Klopp should be given time to get it right.

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