Normal One Jurgen Klopp Has the Credentials to Be Liverpool's Special One

ANFIELD, Liverpool — Jurgen Klopp was officially unveiled as the new manager of Liverpool on Friday morning, and he provided plenty of charisma and passion as he wowed the media and millions of supporters watching worldwide.

The 48-year-old German is arguably the highest-profile appointment Liverpool have ever made. The closest you can get to this is the arrival of Rafael Benitez in 2004. Prior to that, Liverpool's modern-day managers arrived from within the club, following the Boot Room tradition—all except Gerard Houllier.

Indeed, Paul Hayward of the Telegraph writes that Klopp's arrival is "easily the most dramatic managerial ‘happening’ since Mourinho’s first stint at Chelsea." Hayward later describes Klopp's press conference as "sensational."

Klopp is the third foreign manager at Anfield, and he trumps Benitez and Houllier for star power. It was evident inside Anfield's Centenary Stand—where a temporary press room had been arranged in one of the hospitality suites due to the Main Stand construction work, which shows further evidence of Liverpool's lofty ambitions on and off the pitch.

Perhaps because English is not his native tongue, Klopp used no cliched phrases—something Liverpool fans had grown frustrated with over the last 15 months of Brendan Rodgers' reign—but there were plenty of soundbites.

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Asked to describe himself, specifically compared to Jose Mourinho upon his initial arrival in England when he declared himself the "Special One," Klopp replied: "I don’t want to describe myself. Does anyone in this room think I can do wonders? No. I am a totally normal guy. I am the Normal One."

Klopp downplayed himself but raised expectations at the same time. "If we sit here in four years I think we’ll have won one title—I’m pretty sure," he said when asked about Liverpool's 25-year wait for a title.

Indeed, he described Liverpool's current situation as "not so difficult as all the people in this room feel."

Klopp wants Liverpool to compete from the get-go. There was no talk of fifth being about par for the club, or talk of rebuilding, as had been the rhetoric from Rodgers of late.

This was Klopp saying, "We are Liverpool. We are here to win."

"You have to change from doubters to believers," Klopp told the fans. "We have to start anew and see what happens this year."

"This is a great club with big potential, fast players, strong players, good defenders," he added. "Everything is there."

Refreshing Approach

There were no excuses for failure, instead Klopp gave a glimpse of what he will be telling his players. The message will be clear: We are good enough, and we will compete.

He's right. Liverpool do have a squad capable of competing, and with the nature of the 2015/16 Premier League season so far, there's no reason that he shouldn't set the bar high.

There's a feeling of the unknown with Klopp, supporters have no idea who will start his first game in charge, away to Tottenham Hotspur a week on Saturday, and with no transfer window until January, there's no room for speculation over who he may sign. Instead, it's a case of working with what he has.

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There are some who immediately appear to have a strong future under Klopp, not least Roberto Firmino—a player who clearly wasn't flavour of the month under Rodgers and who Klopp has reportedly shown interest in before.

Firmino is touted as a signing from the transfer committee, rather than Rodgers', and it was the question of the committee structure that Klopp was inevitably asked about.

"I am not a genius. I don’t know more than the rest of the world," said Klopp, showing humility rather than egotism, but exuding authority. "For me it is enough to have the first and the last word, the middle we can discuss everything."

With the divide between transfer committee and manager now firmly put behind us, there will be no favouritism shown in team selections. Klopp will analyse each player on their merits and use their strengths where he needs them most in his new side.

Klopp will bring a fresh approach and set of eyes on the Liverpool squad; James Milner, a player guaranteed a central role under Rodgers, may now be asked to perform a different role—one more akin to how he was used at Manchester City; Alberto Moreno could easily be restored to a natural left-back role, with his energy and forward running likely to be to be to Klopp's liking; Adam Lallana could find himself firmly out of favour, a player who has failed to find consistency and impact in the manner that a £25 million signing should.

The Reds sit 10th in the league after eight games played, just three points behind fourth-place Crystal Palace and six behind top-of-the-table Man City.

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Klopp certainly has a baptism of fire on his hands, though, as his first five league fixtures are against Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City away, and Southampton and Crystal Palace at home.

All but Chelsea are above Liverpool in the league at present. If Klopp can manage to navigate those five fixtures, optimism at Anfield will be greater even than that huge new Main Stand that towered over Klopp as he was unveiled on the pitch at his press conference.

But such is the feeling around Anfield and from within the club. Klopp is already making them believe anything is possible.

Klopp's manner and charisma suits Liverpool like a glove: no ego, no talk of himself, just keen to get on with the job at hand and focus on the football.

It's the start of a new era, and Liverpool fans are rightly excited.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.