Jurgen Klopp gives two reasons why he didn't want Liverpool return amid Arne Slot doubts

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Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp returned to Anfield for a charity game and explained his absence during the Reds' Premier League title triumph, amid ongoing speculation about his managerial future

Jurgen Klopp was back in the Anfield dugout for Liverpool Legends' game against Borussia Dortmund(Image: Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, has disclosed the two reasons he was reluctant to return to Anfield after concluding his remarkable stint at the club.

The German coach returned to Merseyside at the weekend's charity game between Liverpool Legends and Borussia Dortmund Legends, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Klopp was back in the technical area, serving as assistant manager to club icon Sir Kenny Dalglish for the match, with Thiago Alcantara and Jay Spearing netting for the Reds.

Klopp confessed that he didn't want to curse Liverpool's Premier League title victory last season by returning to the club, nor did he want to face any undue pressure upon his comeback, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Discussing his return to Merseyside for this weekend's charity match, the 58-year-old said: "When I left here I didn't know how often I would come back.

"First year I didn't want to jinx it, now I didn't want to create wrong expectations or whatever. There's always a reason not to, but this was great.

"There was no doubt that I had to come to support the foundation, and that's why we are here. And the nice thing is that we play a game at Anfield against my other old club, which is really nice."

Liverpool Legends' manager Jurgen Klopp gestures to fans(Image: PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images)

He added: "It's just nice, being here, having absolutely no pressure, no intensity, just here to enjoy the atmosphere and I can't wait. More than 60,000 people here this afternoon which is completely ridiculous. And I hope the players can entertain in a different way, a little bit."

Klopp has been consistently linked with a return to the club, with mounting pressure on Arne Slot this campaign. The German currently serves as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull GmbH and has also been touted for managerial positions at Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking at the Magenta TV World Cup team presentation in Munich, Klopp dismissed any speculation of a transfer to Los Blancos, saying: "If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now.

"But that's all nonsense. They haven't called even once, not once. My agent is there, you can ask him. They haven't called him either. Right now I'm not thinking about that, luckily there's no reason to.

"For my age, I'm quite advanced in life, but as a coach I'm not completely finished. I haven't reached retirement age. Who knows what will happen in the coming years? But there's nothing planned."