Robbie Fowler on Jurgen Klopp's 'greatest quality' and how Liverpool will avoid Manchester United's issue

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has outlined just why Jurgen Klopp's new contract, which was announced this week, will be so important for the club over the coming years.

The German signed an extension keeping him at Anfield until 2024 on Friday, before seeing his side win their 16th league game of the campaign in the Premier League at Anfield the following day against Watford.

Fowler believes that Klopp is the perfect man to take the Reds forward even further - for more reasons that one.

He told the Daily Mirror: "I think everyone assumed he would do seven years and then take a break in 2022. So to get him for another two years after that is massive. You know when Jurgen Klopp said he is the “normal one”? Well, he is – and it’s his greatest quality.

"The way you saw him on the bus ­parading the trophy with those beers, well, that’s him. I’ve seen him give them b****ckings, he can lose his rag in training. But he loves them too – all of his players – he loves it when they click and get it."

Fowler also made the point that the Reds have done some excellent forward planning in terms of their manager, with Klopp now able to oversee a future rebuild in a couple of season's time when the likes of Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah may need to be replaced.

The former striker explained that it should avoid a situation that Manchester United faced in 2013 when David Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson at a time when the Old Trafford side were needing to transition.

Fowler added: "There will come a time when it needs to be refreshed and rebuilt a little. They’re all at peak age – or heading ­towards their peak – but, in two or three years’ time, some will move on.

"To have Klopp overseeing that will mean there’s no chance of handing over like Sir Alex Ferguson did – an ageing team that needed some surgery."

Liverpool face Monterrey on Wednesday in the semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup, with their next Premier League game on Boxing Day, away at Leicester City. The Reds will also discover their Champions League last-16 opponents on Monday as they look to retain that trophy.