Lijnders Faces Liverpool for the First Time Since Controversial Move
Pepijn Lijnders will confront Liverpool for the first time on Sunday after joining Manchester City as assistant manager—a decision he once vowed he would never make when he left Anfield in 2024.
Lijnders' Departure from Liverpool
When Lijnders left Liverpool alongside Jürgen Klopp and most of the backroom team, he was clear about his future plans:
“I will not assist anyone else, that’s the moment I will go and I will manage. That was always the case.”
“I will assist Jürgen and Jürgen only. After this project I will be my own manager.”
These comments, made in February 2024 and later reiterated to FourFourTwo, made his subsequent career moves all the more surprising.
Coaching Career After Liverpool
Soon after leaving his assistant role, Lijnders was appointed head coach of Red Bull Salzburg, signaling the start of his solo managerial career. However, he was dismissed after only six months.
Following his Salzburg exit, Lijnders accepted the assistant manager position under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City during the summer. This caused disappointment among Liverpool fans, given his earlier statements and loyalty to Liverpool.
Sunday's Match and Historical Ties
The 4:30 pm kickoff at the Etihad Stadium will be the first time Lijnders faces Liverpool as an opponent. His history with Liverpool runs deep, having joined the club initially as an under-16 coach in 2014.
The summer also saw Manchester City release coaches Carlos Vicens, Juanma Lillo, and Inigo Dominguez, all connected to Anfield, before bringing in new staff, including Lijnders.
Summary
Pepijn Lijnders' move from Liverpool to Manchester City marks a significant shift, defying his previous vow, and sets the stage for a tense reunion during Sunday's match.