David vs Goliath? Klopp's Liverpool record should be celebrated as Man City's spending called into question

On Monday, the Premier League charged Manchester City with over 100 breaches of its financial rules between 2009 and 2018 and accused the club of not cooperating during a four-year investigation that started in December 2018.

City have denied the allegations, claiming they are "surprised" by the charges and are supported by a "body of irrefutable evidence".

Irrespective of whether the Premier League's indictment carries any weight, the accusations against City have shone a spotlight on the club's spending over the course of the last 15 years.

Since Abu Dhabi United Group's 2008 takeover, City have spent some £2.05bn on transfers, a number only surpassed by Chelsea.

The spending alone does not quite belittle City's accomplishments. After all, German coaching legend Otto Rehagel famously said in 1995 "money doesn't score goals".

Indeed, Manchester United have spent enormous amounts of money in the past decade and in that time have famously often been atrocious.

City owner Sheikh Mansour would likely argue the club's success has been worth the money. Their extravagant spending has produced 18 domestic titles, including six Premier League and two FA Cups.

Yet, City should have won more in that time and would have done if a toothy, bespectacled German had not arrived on Merseyside in October 2015.

Liverpool's success under Klopp

Jurgen Klopp's success at Liverpool is astounding considering the behemoth he has challenged.

It’s not quite been a David versus Goliath situation - the football reporters' go-to metaphor for a weak party’s improbable victory over someone far stronger.

Considering Liverpool’s history and status they are by no means 'weak'. Though they should be significantly weaker than they have been when matched up against this City side.

According to Transfermarkt, since the start of the 2015-16 season City have had an eye-watering net spend of approximately £716m, which has produced 12 trophies including four Premier League titles.

In that same period Liverpool have had a net spend of just £273m and won seven trophies.

Liverpool have the 'more valuable' silverware

While the Reds may have claimed around half as much silverware as City, they arguably have a more valuable set of trophies.

Klopp was brought in to remedy Liverpool's domestic inferiority complex during Sir Alex Ferguson’s trophy-laden 26 seasons at United.

However, it was on the European stage that his Liverpool side made their mark. The club claimed the world’s premier club competition, the Champions League, in 2019, while they have competed in two further finals in the past five years.

Meanwhile, the Champions League is simultaneously the title City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners reportedly value most, and the one that still alludes them.

Yet for Liverpool fans, it is the Premier League trophy that means more than any other.

The club’s historical inability to push themselves over the lines was epitomised in 2013 - Steven Gerrard slipped against Chelsea; Liverpool imploded against Crystal Palace; City pipped the Reds to the crown.

But eight years after the Reds’ traumatic visit to Selhurst Park Klopp delivered - and he did so in some style.

In 2019-2020 Liverpool finished at the league summit for the first time in 30 years, some 18 points clear of City and 33 clear of third-placed United.

To challenge against City’s astounding spending would have been impressive. Indeed from the 2018-19 season to the 21-22 season, City accumulated just one point more than Liverpool.

To better them in one of those 38-game seasons by such a drastic margin is remarkable.

While this season has been quite frankly woeful for Klopp’s side, the past seven and a half years have been nothing short of sensational when one considers the financial might of their nearest rival.