‘Insane’: Ipswich and Leeds highlights got EPL manager excited

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager, has praised Championship sides Leeds United, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and West Brom ahead of their FA Cup match against Southampton.

Liverpool will face Championship promotion hopes Southampton on Wednesday night to advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Saints are Jurgen Klopp’s third second-tier opponent this season, having already faced Leicester City and Norwich City in cup games.

The Championship is often regarded as the best league in the world. The division is intensely competitive from top to bottom, and the continual drama and storylines make it an incredibly entertaining league to watch.

And it appears that Klopp is one of many huge fans of Championship football.

Speaking to the media (as recounted by reporter Lewis Steele) ahead of Liverpool’s match against Southampton, the German manager praised many second-tier clubs. Klopp mentioned Leeds United, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and West Brom.

Jurgen Klopp on the second tier: "I love the Championship, I watched Leeds v Leicester last week. Wow. The football intensity in the Championship is absolutely insane. Saw West Brom recently, a real football-playing idea. Ipswich as well. The league is incredibly difficult."

— Lewis Steele (@LewisSteele_) February 27, 2024

And it’s only getting better

The Championship appears to be increasing in difficulty with each passing year. Some might say that the distance between the Premier League and the second tier is widening, although this is not due to a decline in the lower division’s standards.

This season, Leicester City and Leeds United have played at a level that many believe is worthy of the top division. With Ipswich Town chasing them down and Southampton on a record-breaking undefeated streak, the top two aren’t the only ones catching attention.

The Saints will be trying to put up a strong showing in a difficult match against Liverpool. They’ve lost three of their last four matches, dropping to fourth on the Championship table.

Despite this fall in form, Klopp’s apparent respect for the caliber of Championship football suggests he will not be taking it easy on Russell Martin’s side as he attempts to add more silverware to his trophy collection in his final season at Liverpool.