RB Leipzig will face Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday, where Jurgen Klopp’s past with Liverpool and his new role with Red Bull’s football operations converge. Although Klopp, who stepped down as Liverpool’s manager this summer citing exhaustion after a nine-year tenure, won’t be at the Red Bull Arena, his influence is still felt. During his time at Liverpool, Klopp won both the Premier League and Champions League. In October, he announced his return to football, overseeing Red Bull’s clubs, including Leipzig, Salzburg, and New York, though he will not attend any matches until starting the role in January.
Klopp’s appointment surprised many in both Germany and England, but Leipzig has been in the spotlight as a result. Interestingly, their next five matches include games against all of Klopp’s former teams: Mainz, Liverpool, and Borussia Dortmund.
After Leipzig’s 2-0 victory over Mainz last Saturday, Klopp was a talking point among fans and media. Some fans protested his appointment, and reporters asked Leipzig’s coach Marco Rose if he had sought Klopp’s advice for Wednesday’s game against Liverpool. Rose, who played under Klopp at Mainz and maintains a good relationship with him, said he would not call Klopp for advice, as Klopp is enjoying time in Mallorca with his family and dog.
Rose, born in Leipzig, led the team to a German Cup title in 2023 and a Champions League round of 16 finish, narrowly losing to Real Madrid. This season, Leipzig has retained most of its young talent and is second in the Bundesliga, only behind Bayern Munich on goal difference. However, their Champions League campaign has been difficult, with losses to Atletico Madrid and Juventus. Wednesday’s match against the Premier League leaders is crucial as Leipzig has yet to earn a point in Europe this season.
Both Leipzig and Liverpool have built their strong league campaigns on solid defense. Leipzig has kept clean sheets in six of their seven Bundesliga matches, while Liverpool, under new coach Arne Slot, has conceded just three goals in eight Premier League games. Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci noted the similarities between the teams, saying both are defensively strong and disciplined, making Wednesday’s game a tough challenge. Despite their struggles in Europe, Gulasci believes Leipzig has been competitive and hopes they will finally be rewarded for their efforts.
