What really happened between Jurgen Klopp and Michael Edwards before his 2022 Liverpool exit – report…

What truly transpired between Jurgen Klopp and Michael Edwards prior to his exit from Liverpool in 2022 – according to reports.

The notable acquisition of forward Darwin Nunez during the summer of 2022 is often highlighted as a pivotal moment that showcased Jürgen Klopp’s growing influence in transfer decisions, which may have played a role in the later departure of the esteemed Sporting Director Michael Edwards.

Although Michael Edwards officially claimed that his departure was premeditated after a decade and motivated by a strong belief in change, reports indicate a deeper tension between Jurgen Klopp’s personal inclinations and the club’s established data-driven recruitment strategy.

Jurgen Klopp’s choice regarding Darwin Nunez reportedly led to some discord within Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp and Darwin Nunez celebrating after a match.

James Pearce from The Athletic has disclosed that Klopp was adamant about the £64m acquisition of Nunez, despite resistance from the analytics team, which preferred other data-supported candidates like Christopher Nkunku or Alexander Isak.

Former Liverpool Director of Research Ian Graham has also recently mentioned that while the data ranked both Nunez and Isak highly, Klopp ultimately opted for Nunez, leading to some friction.

Nevertheless, according to the report, there were no significant confrontations, and both Edwards and Ward eventually resigned citing exhaustion.

When asked if there was a power struggle between Klopp and Edwards, Pearce responded: “It’s certainly fair to say that with longevity and success, Klopp’s influence increased across a host of different areas, including recruitment.

“A prime example would be the acquisition of Darwin Nunez from Benfica in the summer of 2022, which was largely driven by Klopp.

Liverpool’s former director of research Ian Graham has noted that this was not a decision based on data. Christopher Nkunku (then at RB Leipzig) and Alexander Isak (then at Real Sociedad) were two alternative options that were suggested.

At times, there was some friction, but to my knowledge, there were no significant conflicts. Both Edwards and Ward resigned from their positions as sporting directors due to feeling worn out after more than ten years of service to Liverpool, necessitating a break.

Jurgen Klopp may not excel in player recruitment. Klopp’s evaluation of players is not his strongest attribute, as demonstrated by past occurrences.

Ian Graham previously disclosed that the German coach was advocating for the signing of Julian Brandt instead of Mohamed Salah in 2017, and the only reason Liverpool secured Salah was due to the dedicated efforts of Edwards and Graham to persuade Klopp.

Conversely, Edwards and his team have established a robust portfolio of successful data-driven signings, earning a reputation as one of the top football intellects in contemporary times.

The data expert returned to Liverpool in 2024, assuming the role of CEO of football for the club’s owners, FSG.

Together with the new sporting director, Richard Hughes, he was instrumental in the record-breaking transfer window Liverpool experienced this summer, investing nearly half a billion pounds in elite player signings, including Alexander Isak.