Jurgen Klopp surprised me in Liverpool meeting - I wish I could change one thing from Anfield spell

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

Peter Krawietz believes Jurgen Klopp has been vindicated in his decision to leave Liverpool after seeing the Reds win the Premier League title under Arne Slot last season.

The long-serving German sent shockwaves through the footballing world when he announced in January 2024 that he would step down as manager at the end of the season after a trophy-laden nine years.

While Klopp would lead Liverpool to League Cup glory in his final season in charge, the Reds ultimately fell short in the Premier League title race as their challenge collapsed in the final weeks of the season.

But that did not stop Slot from winning the league in his first season in charge after succeeding Klopp, despite Federico Chiesa being the only addition to his inherited squad.

READ MORE:Liverpool must face cruel twist after Giovanni Leoni injury as transfer stance testedREAD MORE:What Philipp Lahm and Nick Woltemade said about Florian Wirtz speaks volumes amid Liverpool questions

Krawietz, who served as Klopp’s assistant at both Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool after first working together at Mainz 05, stepped down from his role with the Reds alongside the German and the rest of his backroom staff at the end of last season.

And having seen his former club win the title, he believes handing over the reins at that time was the best decision for everyone involved.

"We handed over a team that wasn't yet fully developed, but in which a lot of things were already right," he said.

We believe we've achieved this, and we're extremely pleased as a result."

While Krawietz might have no regrets about his Liverpool exit, there is one thing he wishes he could change from his time with the Reds - the outcome of the 2018/19 Premier League title-race.

Liverpool, who went on to win the Champions League that season, finished the campaign with a whopping 97 points but lost out on the title to Man City by a solitary point with their only defeat coming at the Etihad.

Denied a goal in a 2-1 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side by the latest of goal-line clearances from John Stones, in hindsight, it was the only thing stopping the Reds from recording an Invincibles season and being crowned both English and European champions.

"There was a season in which we got 97 points – which was one point too few in the end," Krawietz recalled.

They were logical, consistent, and also congruent with my own thinking.

"We had both taken a long look in the mirror, independently of each other, and in doing so, we came to the difficult conclusion: a four-week break would not be enough to face the challenges of the following season, in light of everything that this profession requires."

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

Learn more

£49

£35

Sky

Get Sky Sports here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

Klopp returned to football in January 2025 as he started a new role with the Red Bull group as their new Head of Global Football.

The following March, Krawietz joined RB Leipzig as interim assistant manager until the end of the season.

The former Liverpool assistant was not surprised by the German’s return to football, admitting he would have only been caught off-guard if Klopp had returned to management.

"I would have only been surprised if he had asked me if we wanted to join a certain club in our usual roles," he told GOAL.