As the two longest-serving managers in the Premier League battle it out on Sunday at Turf Moor, Jurgen Klopp has insisted his opposite number at Burnley Sean Dyche deserves to be ranked alongside the title-winning greats.
Klopp welcomes back Africa Cup of Nations hero Sadio Mane as Liverpool seek to close the gap on leaders Manchester City with the Senegal star fighting it out with Mo Salah, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and £37million signing Luis Diaz for a starting spot.
Dyche has never had that kind of luxury in nine years at Burnley but Klopp considers his feat of keeping the club in the top flight for a sixth consecutive season akin to winning major trophies.
Sean Dyche has kept Burnley up for the past five seasons despite a small budget
Jurgen Klopp believes no other manager could have accomplished what Dyche has done
‘I don’t think any other manager could have achieved what Sean has done at Burnley,’ he said. ‘The resources they have in comparison with other Premier League clubs is obviously not that good.
‘Staying that stable in the Premier League is therefore a massive achievement I have to say. It’s as big as winning the league with other clubs for sure. All my respect.’
This season represents Dyche’s toughest test, with Burnley currently bottom albeit with games in hand.
He and Klopp have had various ding-dongs in the past and the pair exchanged angry words in the tunnel area when Burnley beat Liverpool at Anfield last year.
Dyche and Klopp have had various ding-dongs and have exchanged angry words in the past
The Liverpool boss admits facing Burnley is one of the least enviable parts of his job. ‘When I came to England, it was one of the two or three places in the league where you think, ‘Aah, I am not really looking forward to it’,’ confessed the German, who is closest in longevity to Dyche with six years at the helm.
‘The first time playing Burnley, it was, ‘Oh my God’. Then you get experience and learn more, realise the battles around the touchline and stuff like this. It’s part of the deal and my respect couldn’t be bigger.’
Mane has returned to Liverpool as an icon in his homeland after scoring the winning penalty to earn Senegal their first continental title. The forward’s brilliant Anfield career has always been overshadowed by the exploits of Mo Salah but he turns 30 in April with a potentially even brighter future ahead.
Klopp said: ‘The players who are seen as the world’s best, apart from Mo, are all older. Lewandowski is 33, Messi is 34, Ronaldo 37.
‘The massive advantage of being in your thirties as a player is to see things you have learned throughout your career. Sadio can use that and become an even better player than two or three years ago. There is no age roof.’
Liverpool will have Sadio Mane back on Sunday after he won AFCON with Senegal last week
