Liverpool’s Champions League quartet launch new adventure in Saudi Pro League

In 2019, Liverpool were crowned kings of Europe after a thrilling run in the Champions League, culminating in that unforgettable 4-0 win over Barcelona and the 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the final.

The season after, the Reds walked away with the English Premier League, their first domestic championship in three decades. Then there was the FA Cup and League Cup wins in 2021-2022, as Liverpool fell agonizingly short of what would have been a historic quadruple.

Throw in the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup triumph and the Liverpool team built by Jurgen Klopp literally won everything there was to win.

The players who were part of that golden period have become legends at Anfield.

Inevitably, such teams break up over time but few would have expected that by the summer of 2023, over a third of Klopp’s classic starting lineup are now preparing to start their first season in Saudi Arabia.

The first to come was the out-of-contract Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has signed for Al-Ahli. Then there was Jordan Henderson answering the call from Ettifaq’s new head coach Steven Gerrard and soon there was another midfielder in Fabinho joining champions Al-Ittihad. The most recent arrival is Sadio Mane who has left Bayern Munich for Al-Nassr.

While there have been signings from Chelsea in recent weeks with Kalidou Koulibaly, N’Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy coming south, the former Red quartet were hugely influential players in their time at Anfield and crucial for Klopp’s revolution.

Firmino was one of the front three who, along with Mohamed Salah and Mane, took Liverpool to a new level. The Brazilian made and scored goals and also made things happen. He is also the kind of professional that Klopp loves to surround himself with, a star