No place for Mane and Firmino in Ultimate Klopp XI

Jurgen Klopp is widely considered one of, if not the, best managers in world football at present having masterminded success with both Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. The latter are on the cusp of their first league title since 1990 as we take a look at the best rated players to feature for Klopp in the league since the start of the 2009/10 season. 

As with the ultimate Pep Guardiola XI, players must have made a full season's worth of league appearances under Klopp to come under consideration and having managed a host of world class stars, a number of big name players miss out... 

Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool) - 6.78 rating 

There were few goalkeeping options for this XI, with the standout understandably Alisson. The Brazilian has been a revelation between the sticks following his 2018 arrival from Roma, keeping 31 clean sheets from 58 league outings, more than any other goalkeeper since the start of last season. With a better save success rate (79.1%) than any other Premier League shotstopper over the same period, Alisson makes this Jurgen Klopp XI with a WhoScored rating of 6.78. 

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 7.17 rating 

Despite not making his breakthrough season under Klopp until 2017/18, Trent Alexander-Arnold ranks fifth of all Liverpool players for key passes (149) in the Premier League since the German took charge. 25 of those have resulted in an assist for the Reds, a return bettered only by Roberto Firmino (34), with the young defender occupying the right-back spot in this team with a WhoScored rating of 7.71. 

Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.41 rating 

Arguably the best centre-back in world football, it's no coincidence that Liverpool's push for the Premier League and their Champions League success came with Virgil van Dijk in the side. The towering Dutchman has excelled on Merseyside as his WhoScored rating (7.41) suggests. And while he only arrived in January 2018, Van Dijk (5955) ranks second only to Jordan Henderson (7017) for accurate passes of all Liverpool players. 

Centre-back: Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.47 rating 

The first Borussia Dortmund player to feature in the ultimate Klopp XI partners Van Dijk at the heart of the defence. During their time together, Mats Hummels was recognised as one of the best centre-backs in Europe as he impressed largely alongside Neven Subotic. The German routinely utilised a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'passing' as he made more accurate passes (7124) than any other Dortmund player between the 2009/10 and 2014/15 Bundesliga seasons. 

Left-back: Andy Robertson (Liverpool) - 7.09 rating 

Andy Robertson's 2017 arrival from Hull attracted little fanfare as few predicted he'd make such a sustained impact on Merseyside, yet the Scot has been brilliant in a Liverpool shirt and features at left-back in Klopp's ultimate XI. On the back of his capture, only Alexander-Arnold (80) has made more accurate crosses excluding corners than Robertson (57) of all Liverpool players as he breaks forward well to add another dimension to the Reds' attack, and it's helped the defender to a WhoScored rating of 7.09. 

Holding midfield: Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.56 rating 

Nuri Sahin emerged as one of the best midfielders in Europe under Jurgen Klopp, and his fine form in a Borussia Dortmund shirt prompted a move to Real Madrid and, incidentally, Liverpool before he returned to Germany in January 2013. It was with Dortmund that Sahin gave the best examples of his talent before injuries hindered the Turkey international. However, Sahin makes this XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.56, with his best campaign under Klopp coming in 2010/11, where his rating was 7.89. 

Right wing: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 7.58 rating 

Following his arrival from Roma, Mohamed Salah has established himself as one of the best attackers in Europe. Indeed, the Egypt international has scored more goals (70) than any other Liverpool player under Jurgen Klopp, with his 32-goal haul in his debut campaign for the Reds enough to land the Golden Boot. An additional 24 assists sees Salah make this side with a WhoScored rating of 7.58. 

Attacking midfield: Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.53 rating 

Prior to his move to Bayern Munich, Mario Gotze was one of the best attacking talents on the continent and while, like Sahin, injuries curtailed his development, the 2014 World Cup winner was considered one of the hottest prospects in his position. Enjoying a fine breakthrough season in 2010/11, Gotze enjoyed a fine four years under the stewardship of his compatriot as his WhoScored rating (7.53) shows. 

Attacking midfield: Coutinho (Liverpool) - 7.63 rating 

Like Gotze at Dortmund, Coutinho was impressive for a little over three years working under Klopp before his big money move to Barcelona in 2018. A WhoScored rating of 7.63 was better than any other player for Liverpool on the back of Klopp's October 2015 appointment up until his move to Spain as he had a direct hand in 43 league goals in 64 Premier League matches, that the fourth best return of all Reds stars in England's top tier. 

Left wing: Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.71 rating 

The best rated player in this Jurgen Klopp XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.71, Marco Reus enjoyed three fruitful seasons under his compatriot following his 2012 arrival from Gladbach. Reus had a direct hand in an impressive 64 goals from 82 appearances in a Dortmund shirt in his and Klopp's respective time together at the Westfalenstadion to feature as the penultimate Dortmund representative in this team. 

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.51 rating 

It took Robert Lewandowski a short while to get up to speed following his 2010 arrival, but once everything clicked into place for the Pole at Borussia Dortmund, he became one of the best number nine's in the game. Up until his 2014 move to Bayern Munich, Lewandowski, like Salah, had a direct hand in 94 league goals under Klopp, netting 74 times in the four seasons together, to round off this XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.51.