Jurgen Klopp Has 'Revived Liverpool's Enthusiasm,' Says Sir Alex Ferguson

Former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for rejuvenating the Reds and tipped them to be 2016-17 Premier League title contenders. 

The Anfield club have started the season in fine fashion and are level on points with Manchester City atop the early league table.

This form has impressed Ferguson, who told German magazine Kicker (h/t ESPN FC):

"

He has done a really good job and revived Liverpool's enthusiasm.

It can happen that big clubs lose it. For two decades, Liverpool changed managers without building their own identity.

You can now well and truly sense that you have to count them in this year. You can see Klopp's dedication on the sideline—I'm convinced his work in training is similar. He's a strong personality. That's absolutely vital at a big club.

"

Ferguson masterminded United to 13 Premier League titles and went on to tell Kicker (h/t Chris Davie of Metro) of his belief that five clubs are in with a chance of winning the prize this season:

"

Manchester City as favourites, Tottenham and Liverpool, but also United are still there if we get some consistency soon. Even when you are trailing by six, eight points, it’s still possible to catch one or two teams. The rivalry and the experience of Guardiola and Mourinho makes for an exciting competition. And you shouldn’t forget Arsenal. The team is more sturdy.

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Ferguson is a confirmed fan of Klopp's style, and it is not the first time he has come out with high praise. At the time of the German's appointment in October 2015, the legendary Scot described how he viewed the former Borussia Dortmund boss, per ESPN FC.

"Strong personality, very strong, very stubborn, determined and his performances, and his career at Dortmund was a stellar rise to the top, and I think he'll do very well," Ferguson said.

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Klopp has received many plaudits for his team's displays over recent weeks. As Nick Wright of Sky Sports highlighted, the fluidity of the Reds attacking play has been at the forefront of their positive start.

Wright noted: "Liverpool's forwards are encouraged to interchange positions when they are in possession. Firmino plays as a marauding false nine, and their fluid movement is difficult to stop."

Klopp's managerial methods have made an impact at Anfield. Many players appear fitter and therefore more up to the task of fulfilling the German's high-pressing tactics.

Phillipe Coutinho in particular looks to be flourishing under Klopp's guidance, and his dovetailing with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane has been integral to how well the team have performed so far.

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The 2016-17 campaign so far has seen a marked improvement in Liverpool's attacking performances. But question marks remain over Klopp's defensive organisation, and the German admitted it is a weakness they are working hard to overcome, per James Pearce for the Manchester Evening News.

"I think 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the goals we concede are set pieces, but they’re all different and we’re still working on it," Klopp said.

Aside from attacking quality, away league victories over Arsenal and Chelsea have also revealed a newfound resilience among the Reds squad.

Add to that the midweek win over Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup, which demonstrated the depth Klopp has been building, and the future looks to be a rosy one.