Jurgen Klopp is Liverpool’s most successful manager of the 21st century having conquered all before him during almost nine years with the club.

The German is still missed at Anfield, having stepped aside at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

It was not just Klopp‘s trophy-winning habit or his magnetic personality which so warmed Liverpool supporters to him, but the football which his teams played was often exciting and front-footed, too.

This was in contrast to the only other Liverpool manager to win the Champions League since the turn of the millennium: Rafa Benitez.

Benitez’s sides were well-known for their pragmatic, sometimes sterile style of football. This at times stagnated some of the more flair-driven players within his Liverpool squads.

One of those who struggled to come to terms with the Spaniard’s approach was Ryan Babel. The Dutch winger failed to spark across three-and-a-half seasons at Anfield. But according to Babel himself, his Liverpool career would have been much different under Klopp.

Ryan Babel pictured playing in a Champions League game for Liverpool.Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesRyan Babel wanted to play under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool

It was not as though forward players did not succeed under Benitez at Liverpool. Fernando Torres’ Reds’ career is proof of that if any was needed.

However, in terms of wide players, the former Valencia boss clearly preferred hard-working options such as Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera over those with pace and verve like Babel.

READ MORE: Ryan Babel left baffled after what he’s seen Liverpool fans say about Arne Slot

Klopp, by contrast, turned inverted wingers such as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane into superstars at Anfield.

In another life, it isn’t too hard to see how Babel could have done the job of Mane under Klopp. Quick, skilful and a terrific finisher, the former Netherlands international could have shone.

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Babel was also the kind of player who would likely have benefitted from Klopp’s approach to man management. Taking to X on Wednesday, the 38-year-old suggested this would have been the case.

“If I played under Jurgen Klopp back in 2007 – when I made that move from Ajax to Liverpool at 20 years old…” Babel wrote. “Man, things could’ve gone so differently. But one thing’s for sure. I gave it my all.”

Jurgen Klopp could have changed Babel’s career

When Babel arrived at Liverpool in 2007, he did so as one of the most exciting young players in Europe.

However, the then 20-year-old looked an awkward fit under Benitez right from the start, with the Spanish coach never quite fully trusting his signing.

Ultimately, Babel scored just 22 goals in 146 appearances for Liverpool. He never managed more than 10 goals in a full season. As a result, fairly or not, he went down as a flop at Anfield.

Nevertheless, there is likely some truth in what he is asserting here. Babel has spoken out about his unhappiness under Benitez before, admitting he was not a fan of the way the Champions League winners dealt with his players.

Klopp was brilliant at making players feel loved under his guidance, and that coupled with a more free-flowing system would likely have got much more out of Babel.