Top of the Klopps

THE managerial career of Derek Adams has been a long, happy story of success, marked by wonderful achievements during his time as boss at Ross County.

His tenure at the Argyle helm is thankfully following a similar pattern and there is a clear method in what he is trying to accomplish at Home Park, but this Sunday’s trip to Liverpool is a chance for Derek, his players and the supporters to enjoy something very different.

Stood just a few yards from Derek on the Anfield sidelines will be Jurgen Klopp, one of the most revered and respected coaches in world football. While it is difficult to know what sort of team Klopp will select for this FA Cup clash, the certainty for Adams is that a win over Liverpool would take its rightful place as Derek's biggest achievement as a manger.

“He [Klopp] did a good job at Borussia Dortmund and, while he’s only new in English football and with Liverpool, he’s starting to stamp his authority on the game here,” said Derek.

“He’s occasionally found it difficult because the Premier League is not easy to play in but all the top managers have difficulties. It’s a relentless league to play in.

“We’ll chat after the game but they’ve shown in previous cup competitions that they’ve changed the team around quite a bit. There are a number of younger players that I presume will play and they do have injuries, like ourselves. I’m sure they will put out a very good team.

“I’ve picked my team already and we know how we’re going to play. We don’t know what Liverpool will do, which makes it a little harder for us.

“This will be up there in the top five experiences of my managerial career to be stood on the sidelines at Anfield. It’s not quite the very top because that was going 40 games unbeaten in Scotland and being a First Division club in the Scottish Cup Final, beating the likes of Celtic and Hibernian.

“However, if we beat Liverpool on Sunday, then it goes to the top.”