Jurgen Klopp vs Mauricio Pochettino: Complete head-to-head record

  • Managers set to meet for final time in 2023/24 at Wembley in Carabao Cup final
  • Klopp faced Pochettino regularly during the Argentine's time at Tottenham
  • Pair also contested 2019 Champions League final in Madrid
Klopp's Liverpool will face Pochettino's Chelsea in 2023/24
Klopp's Liverpool will face Pochettino's Chelsea in 2023/24 / Getty Images/GettyImages
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When Jurgen Klopp squared off against Mauricio Pochettino during the 2010s in the Premier League, their Liverpool and Tottenham sides were regularly showered with praise for their high-energy ethic and vibrant attacking play.

While not a revered managerial rivalry in comparison to duels between Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel, games featuring the German and Argentine bosses have been packed with goals, entertainment, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

While Klopp is just about still pounding away at Liverpool, Pochettino got sacked at Tottenham, endured a tumultuous spell at Paris Saint-Germain and is now in charge at Chelsea.

Here's every game Klopp and Pochettino have faced each other in.


Jurgen Klopp vs Mauricio Pochettino H2H record

1. Tottenham 0-0 Liverpool - October 2015

Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp
Their first encounter finished goalless / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

While not a particularly memorable game on the pitch, this match will always be remembered as Klopp's first Premier League match in charge of Liverpool.

The game finished goalless, mainly thanks to the efforts of Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal, but the result embodied the spirit and ferocity Klopp's Reds would become accustomed with.

Mind you, looking at a back four of Alberto Moreno, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel and Nathaniel Clyne, it's a surprise Tottenham didn't manage to find at least one goal.


2. Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham - April 2016

Harry Kane
Kane and Coutinho were the goalscorers / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

The second encounter between Klopp and Pochettino that season also ended in a draw, this time at Anfield.

It was a significantly worse point for Spurs than it was for Liverpool as their title challenge against Leicester City took a serious hit. A goal from Harry Kane cancelled out Philippe Coutinho's opener, with both sides creating chances worthy of winning the match.

It wasn't to be for Spurs on the day or in the title race.


3. Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool - August 2016

James Milner, Eric Dier
It was a third successive draw between the sides / Julian Finney/GettyImages

Klopp and Pochettino played out a third successive draw in this iteration of Tottenham vs Liverpool, with two goals from left-backs cancelling one another out.

James Milner, who started in defence, netted a penalty just before the half-time whistle, but Danny Rose responded in the 72nd minute to ensure the spoils were shared.

Liverpool felt hard done by after the match, however, seeing a Sadio Mane strike controversially ruled out for offside.


4. Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham - October 2016

FBL-ENG-LCUP-LIVERPOOL-TOTTENHAM
Sturridge bagged twice against Spurs / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages

A different competition and a different outcome as Liverpool beat Spurs 2-1 in the Carabao Cup fourth round. Klopp finally got the better of Pochettino, albeit as both managers fielded very experimental lineups littered with youngsters.

Daniel Sturridge's brace was enough to see off a late Spurs charge after Vincent Janssen converted a penalty in a game that marked the debut of Trent Alexander-Arnold.


5. Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham - February 2017

Kyle Walker, Adam Lallana
Klopp managed another victory against Pochettino / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages

It was another brace that separated Klopp and Pochettino, this time scored by Liverpool's Mane. Two goals in two minutes from the Senegalese forward was enough to down a Spurs side that were sat two places above the Reds at the time.

Spurs did indeed finish the season two positions above Liverpool, with the Lilywhites claiming second spot and the Reds making a return to the Champions League places at the expense of Tottenham's north London rivals Arsenal.


6. Tottenham 4-1 Liverpool - October 2017

Dejan Lovren
Spurs thrashed Liverpool at Wembley / David Ramos/GettyImages

Pochettino's first win over Klopp was a big one. Playing at Wembley while their new stadium was built, Tottenham dismantled a woeful Liverpool defence, netting four times in an emphatic victory.

Harry Kane bagged a brace and goals from Son Heung-min and Dele Alli meant Mohamed Salah's strike was nothing more than a consolation. A chastening defeat for Liverpool, and probably one of the worst in the Klopp era.

Spare a though for Dejan Lovren too, who was so bad he was hooked after 31 minutes and replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.


7. Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham - February 2018

Victor Wanyama
Wanyama scored a goal of the season contender / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages

A game fuelled by late drama, this proved to be a classic between Liverpool and Spurs. It may have finished 2-2, but that hardly told the story of a blistering match.

Having led after just three minutes through Salah, the Reds appeared to be on their way to three points. That was until Victor Wanyama of all people popped up with a piledriver from 25 yards out, much to the shock of Klopp, Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius and Wanyama himself.

Liverpool then looked to have wrestled the points back from Spurs in the 90th minute, Salah scoring a truly inspired solo goal after twisting and turning in the Tottenham penalty area.

Unfortunately for the Reds, a 95th-minute Kane penalty would wipe the smiles off faces at Anfield in a truly bonkers match.


8. Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool - September 2018

Georginio Wijnaldum
Liverpool reigned supreme at Wembley / Visionhaus/GettyImages

In the first of three meetings between the sides in the 2018/19 season, Klopp was victorious over Pochettino with his first away win at Spurs.

It turned out to be a very comfortable win for the Reds, with goals from Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino securing the victory. A very late Erik Lamela strike was nothing more than a consolation, as Liverpool maintained their 100% record five games into the new Premier League campaign.


9. Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham - March 2019

Mohamed Salah
The Reds won with a late goal / Alex Livesey - Danehouse/GettyImages

Another Liverpool vs Tottenham match at Anfield, another game defined by late drama.

Having gone ahead via a Firmino header, Lucas Moura pegged back the title-chasing Liverpool, who looked as if they were going to lose more ground on Manchester City. However, a late Toby Alderweireld own goal spared Liverpool's blushes on the day to put them back at the top of the Premier League table, though they were still ultimately pipped to the title.

It almost proved costly for Spurs who were looking for Champions League qualification, but they did manage to make it into the top four a point ahead of Arsenal.


10. Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool - June 2019

UEFA Champions League final: Tottenham vs Liverpool
Liverpool beat Spurs to win the Champions League / Anadolu Agency/GettyImages

Possibly the most important match to have ever taken place between Liverpool and Tottenham, Klopp once again reigned supreme over Pochettino.

The 2019 Champions League final was contested between the two sides, ending in bitter heartbreak for Spurs and unbridled euphoria for Liverpool.

Having been awarded an incredibly early penalty that was converted by Salah, Liverpool largely kept Tottenham at bay in Madrid. It was a game of little excitement or drama as both sides created a few half-decent chances to score. Divock Origi's arrival off the bench would put the game to bed as he arrowed in a left-footed drive from inside the penalty area late in the second half.

For the Reds it was a sixth Champions League crown, for Spurs it was a devastating blow.


11. Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham - October 2019

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Poch faced Klopp as Spurs manager for the last time in 2019 / PAUL ELLIS/GettyImages

By the end of his time at Spurs, Pochettino must have been sick to death of facing Klopp.

This game at Anfield actually started brilliantly for Spurs, Kane netting after less than a minute. But second-half goals from Jordan Henderson and Salah would result in another defeat for Pochettino on Merseyside.

A little less than a month later, Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham.


12. Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool - August 2023

Axel Disasi
Axel Disasi scored on his Premier League debut / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

Almost four years had passed before these two managers duelled for the 12th time, with Pochettino now in charge of overseeing Todd Boehly's project in west London.

Chelsea hosted Klopp's Liverpool on the opening weekend of the season, and the teams played out an initially enthralling 1-1 draw. The hosts offered plenty of verve, while the visitors proved devastating in transition.

Luis Diaz handed Liverpool an early lead, but a proactive Chelsea restored parity through debutant Axel Disasi before half-time.


13. Liverpool 4-1 Liverpool - January 2024

Conor Bradley
Young Conor Bradley was on the scoresheet as the Reds thumped Chelsea at Anfield / Clive Brunskill/GettyImages

Poch's woes at Anfield continued with Chelsea, although his Blues outfit succumbed to a battering rarely felt by his Tottenham sides.

The Blues were distinctly second best, enjoying just one brief period of momentum when substitute Christopher Nkunku got on the scoresheet after the visitors found themselves 3-0 behind.

Liverpool were typically rampant with young Conor Bradley starring. The full-back netted the hosts second as they took a 2-0 lead into the break. A striker-less Chelsea struggled to assert themselves, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz finding the back of the net after half-time to seal a convincing win.


14. Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (AET) - February 2024

Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino was outthought again by Klopp at Wembley / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

Liverpool headed into the 2023/24 Carabao Cup final as favourites, though with key stars like Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez out with injuries, there was enough optimism to keep Chelsea fans intrigued.

While they weren't blown away like a month before, it still turned out to be an embarrassing outing for the Blues. The injury-stricken Reds kept Pochettino's side at bay before Virgil van Dijk headed in the winner in extra time.

Chelsea had been well in the contest before losing their heads as Liverpool handed Klopp a trophy at the start of his long goodbye at Anfield.


Jurgen Klopp vs Mauricio Pochettino H2H record

  • Jurgen Klopp: 8 wins
  • Mauricio Pochettino: 1 win
  • Draws: 5

Goals scored

  • Teams managed by Klopp: 23
  • Teams managed by Pochettino: 14

Top scorers in games between Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino

Player

Club

Goals scored

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

5

Harry Kane

Tottenham

5

Sadio Mane

Liverpool

2

Roberto Firmino

Liverpool

2

Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool

2

Luis Diaz

Liverpool

2


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