Virgil van Dijk has admitted that Liverpool’s hectic December fixture schedule is quite ‘demanding’ but is confident that Jurgen Klopp’s squad can negotiate the workload.

Having played LASK on Thursday and Fulham yesterday, the Reds have swiftly turned their attention towards the away Premier League double header against Sheffield United on Wednesday night and Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime.

A five-day breather then precedes another burst of five matches in 13 days, but luckily the first of those is a Europa League dead rubber against Union Saint-Gilloise, with LFC having already wrapped up top spot in their group.

Speaking straight after the 4-3 win over Fulham on Sunday (via Liverpool Echo), Van Dijk said that the arduous December fixture schedule is ‘something we have all accepted over the last couple of years’.

He added: “You are already looking ahead and making sure you are doing the right things. In my case I will get treatment tonight and I will do all the recovery stuff tonight in order to be much fresher tomorrow morning.

“Then we have another recovery session tomorrow, so it is basically: play, recover, sleep well, eat well and be ready for the next game. It’s a demanding process but we cannot complain, you know.

“I think we always have the team [analysis] meetings the day before the game but like I said the mode is already on recovery from this and tomorrow we will do this already with an eye on Sheffield United and Tuesday we have a big meeting for that. Then we travel on Wednesday to Sheffield and we will be ready for a tough game.”

READ MORE: 2x EPL winner’s claim suggests injured Liverpool player could be touch-and-go to return v Man Utd

READ MORE: (Video) Souness insists ‘predictable’ £300k-p/w Man City player wouldn’t get in Liverpool’s team

For clubs such as Liverpool who compete in Europe annually, managing two or three games in a week isn’t an unfamiliar task, although the current sequence of 10 matches in 33 days is gruelling even by our standards.

Van Dijk himself has previously hit out at the excessive workload being heaped upon footballers at the highest level and urged the sport’s main stakeholders to have a ‘conversation’ on the subject (Liverpool Echo).

Tricky trips to Bramall Lane and Selhurst Park represent banana skins at the best of times, so to have both of those in the space of 72 hours will be a massive test of the Reds’ stomach for a Premier League title fight this season.

Cynics will point to the enormous wages that players in the English top flight earn and insist that they get on with it, but Van Dijk’s insight provides a window into just how relentless this week will be for him and his teammates, who know that the margin for error is zero.

Liverpool’s fans and squad will be hugely relieved that, at least by getting their business done in the Europa League early, the trip to Belgium next week offers a chance for first-team regulars to get an additional rest before Manchester United come to town the following Sunday.

EOTK FPL Gameweek 14 Review : HOLD Trippier? The long-term view, Zinchenko’s time to shine? Eject your Villans?

The post ‘Basically…’ – Van Dijk explains how Liverpool will deal with ‘demanding’ December task appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Andreas Pereira felt the full force of the colossal Virgil van Dijk during Liverpool’s epic 4-3 victory over Fulham on Sunday.

Towards the end of the first half, the Cottagers midfielder sprinted towards the Reds captain to try and put him under pressure as the latter surged towards the halfway line.

The 32-year-old duly shoved him away in uncompromising fashion, the force of the collision prompting the ex-Manchester United player to slump to the turf.

Pereira learned the hard way that dispossessing Van Dijk is no easy feat, especially if the Dutchman has his way!

You can view footage of the incident below, via @Lfc__vision on X (formerly Twitter):

VVD pic.twitter.com/vWTOEsyGBI

— Vision (@Lfc__vision) December 3, 2023

The post (Video) Andreas Pereira felt the full force of colossal Virgil van Dijk during Anfield epic appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Jarell Quansah has been the breakthrough academy star this season and has continued to take every chance that is handed his way, including in his latest appearance against LASK.

With Sascha Horvath bearing down on goal, the young defender did a great job of slowing him down and directing the Austrian away from Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal.

READ MORE: (Video) “Danny Welbeck is a better overall footballer than Mohamed Salah”

When the ball then came to Ibrahim Mustapha, the 20-year-old threw himself in the way of the goal-bound effort.

It was a piece of defending that will surely make many Liverpool fans think that we may have already found Virgil van Dijk’s long-term replacement.

You can watch the clip of Quansah via @LFC on X:

That defending from Jarell Quansah

Destined for big things #LFC pic.twitter.com/82Lk5xF7t8

— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 2, 2023

Anfield Annals: Matt McQueen the Anfield All-Rounder who did everything in 36 years as a Red

The post (Video) Quansah’s Van Dijk inspired defending will have Liverpool fans thinking the same thing appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool have had a great start to the season and it seems that the sluggishness from the last campaign is behind us, with Richard Dunne highlighting the form of one man.

Speaking on Virgin Media Sport, the Irishman said: “I think a big improvement for them this season has been the return to form of Van Dijk. He’s been excellent.

“I think they have conceded just 11 goals, the second-best defence in the Premier League this season which has helped them.

READ MORE: Liverpool have recently enquired about signing Manchester City player in January – report

“The regeneration of the midfield area has been perfect and the front five they have will be a real threat to anyone”.

You can’t argue against the claim that our captain is back to his best, with his recent performances being highly impressive.

If we want to get to the end of May with silverware in hand, then the form of the Dutchman is vital and he’s really stepping up to the plate so far.

You can watch Dunne’s comments on Van Dijk (from 1:03) via Virgin Media Sport on YouTube:

Anfield Annals: Matt McQueen the Anfield All-Rounder who did everything in 36 years as a Red

The post (Video) Richard Dunne says Liverpool have a player who looks so much better this season appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Virgil van Dijk will have been rather proud, one might imagine, observing his young protege’s latest performance in the Europa League.

Jarell Quansah played a prominent role in a shutout result secured against Austrian outfit LASK midweek.

It’s one to take with a pinch of salt, given the player he’s being compared to, but the 20-year-old’s superb sliding tackle to deny a genuine goalscoring opportunity had fans online thinking of our Dutch colossus.

Even if he only turns out to be half as good – wow, do we have a quality defender on our hands!

You can catch the clip below, courtesy of @Yugdeep_LFC, plus all the fan reaction below:

Jarell Quansah is destined for greatness pic.twitter.com/G8S0ZO1zLp

— Lucho (@Yugdeep_LFC) November 30, 2023

Quansah is VVD 2.0 I’m certain of it.
pic.twitter.com/HPEti7mxsi

— 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗦 (@LFC_Lucas_) November 30, 2023

Jarrel Quansah Appreciation Post.

𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙮 𝙑𝙖𝙣 𝘿𝙞𝙟𝙠 pic.twitter.com/h6fH0QbIi2

— . (@ScouserChrisLFC) November 30, 2023

Another solid performance tonight from Jarell Quansah
He floats around the pitch like Virgil Van Dijk‍
Liverpool 2.0 is going to be scary but not for us#LFC #LIVLASK pic.twitter.com/37fPXjSRZI

— Rob (@ftfcrob) November 30, 2023

Jarrel Quansah’s absolutely immense man, baby Van Dijk on our hands here

— 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒄𝒐 (@WilcoFtbl) November 30, 2023

The post (Video) Van Dijk regen: Quansah’s break glass intervention in second-half vs LASK will wow fans appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Liverpool have business to complete against LASK in the Europa League tonight, but Virgil van Dijk still found the time to enjoy a lovely moment with some of the match mascots during the Reds’ warm-up.

The club’s official social media channels shared a short clip of the captain – who’s among the substitutes as Jurgen Klopp fields a heavily rotated starting line-up – spending time with a few of the youngsters.

The 32-year-old passed a ball among the lucky mascots as they tried their best to stay as warm as possible during a bitingly cold night at Anfield.

Even with Van Dijk not starting – and hopefully not needing to be called upon if Liverpool can get the job done swiftly – it was still brilliant to see him making time for the kids so close to kick-off.

You can view the clip of Virgil and the mascots below, via @LFC on X (formerly Twitter):

pic.twitter.com/R04jUbPf4H

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 30, 2023

The post (Video) There was a lovely touch from Virgil van Dijk during Liverpool’s warm-up at Anfield appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Phil Thompson has described the decision to give the Liverpool captaincy to Virgil van Dijk as ‘the perfect call’ from Jurgen Klopp.

The Dutchman took over the role during the summer following the departure of Jordan Henderson for Saudi Arabia, and an article for the Liverpool Echo noted how – in tandem with vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold – the centre-back is driving a change in leadership style within the Reds’ squad.

The piece mentioned how the current skipper and his deputy ‘offer a more relaxed approach’ than their predecessors Henderson and James Milner, who were ‘famed for their no-nonsense, almost headmaster-like’ demeanour.

That change of tack is ‘understood to have led to a more serene atmosphere within the ranks’ at Anfield, with Van Dijk’s ‘calming presence’ helping him to ‘command respect without the need to be overly vocal or outspoken away from the pitch’.

That approach has met with approval by Thompson, who was Liverpool’s captain when they won the European Cup in 1981.

The 69-year-old told the Liverpool Echo: “When you raise your voice [occasionally], people jump and they listen and they know what you’re talking about. If you rant and rave all the time, it doesn’t get through. You’ve got to do it at given times and that is why I think he was the perfect call after Jordan left.”

READ MORE: (Video) Dominik Szoboszlai had a warm greeting for one Liverpool player during surprise visit

READ MORE: ‘It worked…’ – Gary Lineker jokes that Micah Richards cursed one Liverpool player on Saturday

The more relaxed approach under Van Dijk and Trent isn’t by any means a criticism of the leadership style of Henderson and Milner – indeed, those two would’ve been invaluable pillars of guidance for the current vice-captain when he was breaking through to the first team at Liverpool a few years ago.

While it took the 33-year-old’s out-of-the-blue transfer to Al Ettifaq to instigate a change in captaincy, rather than any intention by Klopp to take it off him and redistribute it, players can often appreciate hearing new voices dominate within the dressing room.

The Henderson-Milner axis led the squad for eight years, which is a long time to be tasked with carrying the roles of primary responsibility within a group.

It seems that Van Dijk and Trent have opted to go with a more sedate approach as captain and vice-captain at Liverpool, and the evidence of the season so far suggests that they’ve been justified in doing so.

Thompson is correct in saying that occasional sharp blasts from a leader command far greater attention than constant drill sergeant-esque bellowing which’d cause teammates to tune it out; and as a former Reds skipper himself, he’s perfectly placed to speak about the subject.

It definitely looks as if Klopp got it right with his choice of successors to Henderson and Milner over the summer.

EOTK FPL Gameweek 13 Review : Trippier OUT & Zinchenko IN? Gordon the ultimate differential? Haaland & Salah must-haves

The post Phil Thompson salutes ‘perfect call’ from Klopp as Liverpool duo lead notable in-house change appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Although Liverpool completed some brilliant business during the recent transfer window the Reds will be somewhat frustrated after hearing about the decision one player made in the summer.

A report from TEAMtalk has revealed that Jurgen Klopp was eager to sign a new central defender to partner Virgil van Dijk at the start of the season with Netherlands international Micky van de Ven one of the players the Merseysiders were keeping tabs on.

Our No. 4 even spoke to his compatriot about completing a move to Anfield from Wolfsburg, but this fresh report has now revealed that Spurs ‘moved faster and closed the deal’ ahead of Liverpool.

READ MORE: (Image) Enrique selects his combined starting XI from Manchester City and Liverpool ahead of Saturday’s clash

The defender has hit the ground running since completing a switch to the north London-based outfit and has been a huge part of Ange Postecoglou’s side who have started the campaign strongly – despite their two recent defeats.

The 22-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during the defeat to Chelsea earlier this month, however, and is likely to be sidelined until next year in what is a huge blow for Spurs.

It appears that we’ve missed out on a brilliant signing but van Dijk has been returned to his dominant best this season while Ibou Konate and Joel Matip are excellent options alongside the skipper, while Jarrell Quansah is also showing plenty of promise.

It’s disappointing to hear that we missed out on the Dutchman, especially to a Premier League rival, but there will be plenty of other players who can come into our side and improve Klopp’s options when needed.

EOTK FPL Gameweek 12 Review : Tsimikas benching frustration, Palmer bargain? Time to sell Heung-min Son?

The post VVD spoke with Dutch ace about Liverpool switch in the summer but fellow PL side ‘moved faster’ – report appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Glen Johnson is relishing one particular personal duel in Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester City.

The fixture pits the current top two against each other, and it also sees the division’s top scorer come up against probably its best defender, with Erling Haaland and Virgil van Dijk facing off.

The battle between those two could go a long way towards determining which (if either) team emerges victorious, and the former Reds defender is among those who’s intrigued as to how that match-up might play out.

Speaking to Squawka, Johnson said: “If anyone can stop Haaland, Van Dijk can. The issue is, with City it’s not just about him and there’s goal threats everywhere.

“Liverpool have to be careful [to] not just build the whole gameplan around Haaland, but in terms of the one-on-one battle between him and Van Dijk, it will be interesting to see how they take the game on. I’m interested to see if Haaland will look to go in behind or drop off and pull Van Dijk away from the defensive line.”

READ MORE: Glen Johnson claims ‘talented’ Man City ace could be in for ‘a tough game’ against Liverpool

READ MORE: ‘It was my decision…’ – Liverpool fans will revel in Tsimikas’ reason for sitting out Greece game

The Man City striker missed Norway’s 3-3 draw against Scotland on Sunday due to an ankle injury but is expected to be fit enough to feature against the Reds next weekend.

He actually wasn’t on the pitch when his side won this fixture 4-1 last season, having been absent with a groin problem, while Van Dijk didn’t play when Liverpool lost at the Etihad Stadium in the Carabao Cup just before Christmas due to his involvement in the latter stages of the 2022 World Cup.

Therefore, assuming the 23-year-old recovers in time, it’ll be a first head-to-head between the pair since our win over City at Anfield 13 months ago, when the Dutchman helped us to a clean sheet.

The Reds’ captain’s performance levels have risen since then, and he goes into Saturday’s game buoyant off the back of a strong campaign so far for club and country, but Haaland’s return of 69 goals in 71 appearances for his current employers (Transfermarkt) tells us everything about his potency.

Broadcasters may bill it as irresistible force meets immovable object, and it’s an individual head-to-head which could be decisive, although Johnson is right to warn of Pep Guardiola’s side boasting an abundance of attacking threats who can’t be taken lightly by Liverpool’s defence.

10 games in 33 days: Liverpool’s title credentials set to be put to the test during relentless round-off to 2023

The post ‘If anyone can…’ – Glen Johnson is relishing one particular match-up between City and Liverpool appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Jurgen Klopp will be fervently hoping that one pundit’s prediction about a couple of Liverpool players proves accurate.

The Reds return to action on Saturday with a top-of-the-table Premier League clash away to Manchester City, with both teams sweating over the fitness of certain players prior to the Etihad Stadium showdown.

Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo are currently fighting fit, and having helped Netherlands to clinch Euro 2024 qualification last weekend, some commentators within the country believe they mightn’t be called upon for tonight’s dead rubber clash against Gibraltar.

Speaking on the AD Football Podcast, Maarten Wijffeels said: “Now that the Dutch team has qualified for the European Championship, all kinds of club coaches are going to call to spare the big guns.

“Jurgen Klopp does not want Cody Gakpo or Virgil van Dijk to get injured against Gibraltar. Daley Blind experienced that once in 2021. That is the horror. So I expect quite a few changes on Tuesday. Maybe 11 new players.”

READ MORE: Shocking Darwin Nunez stat highlights inescapable AFCON truth

READ MORE: ‘My understanding is’: What reliable journo has now heard about Andre Trindade transfer race

Our message to Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman is simple – listen to Wijffeels and give other players a chance, now that qualification is secured.

Gibraltar are reeling from a harrowing 14-0 defeat to France just three days ago, so the Dutch could hardly have hand-picked more accommodating opponents to face in their final Euro 2024 qualifier.

They should be able to make a host of changes and still have a starting XI which is more than capable of rounding off the campaign with another victory.

It doesn’t take the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes to determine that Liverpool’s clash at Man City on Saturday has more riding on it than an inconsequential game for Netherlands tonight, so we’re imploring Koeman to give Van Dijk and Gakpo the night off.

Klopp will have one more restless night with plenty of his squad on international duty. As many as 12 Reds players could be involved for their countries over the next 24 hours – fingers crossed they’ll all return to Merseyside fully fit and raring to go for next weekend’s titanic trip to the Etihad.

EOTK FPL Gameweek 12 Review : Tsimikas benching frustration, Palmer bargain? Time to sell Heung-min Son?

The post ‘I expect…’ – Klopp and Liverpool fans will be praying that pundit’s pre-City prediction is right appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

There could still be some bad news for Liverpool fans even despite both Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk being expected to be rested during the Netherlands’ meeting with Gibraltar.

Sport Witness, relayed the comments of pundit Maarten Wijffeels of the AD Football Podcast: “Now that the Dutch team has qualified for the European Championship, all kinds of club coaches are going to call to spare the big guns.”

“Jurgen Klopp does not want Cody Gakpo or Virgil van Dijk to get injured against Gibraltar. Daley Blind experienced that once in 2021. That is the horror. So I expect quite a few changes on Tuesday. Maybe 11 new players.”

It’s not quite panic over, however, ahead of the return of domestic action.

Fans may face a nervous wait, claims the Telegraph (via Liverpool World), over Trent Alexander-Arnold thanks to pitch conditions in North Macedonia.

READ MORE: ‘Really impressed’: Liverpool coaches believe £500,000 Academy talent can become next Trent & Jones

READ MORE: Liverpool could sign Salah replacement for free if prepared to sanction Luis Diaz exit – report

Please let us emerge relatively unscathed

We’ve got fingers, toes and everything crossed that our No.66 will emerge from the international break fit, healthy and raring to go for the remainder of the campaign.

We don’t need to tell anyone just how devasting a blow it would be to lose our first-choice right-back amid Andy Robertson’s ongoing stay in the treatment room.

Ahead of such a critical clash in the visit to the Etihad at the weekend, we need absolutely every piece of weaponry in the armoury available to take on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

EOTK FPL Gameweek 12 Review : Tsimikas benching frustration, Palmer bargain? Time to sell Heung-min Son?

The post Liverpool’s double injury scare truth comes to light amid Trent worry ahead of Man City showdown appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Many Liverpool fans will agree that the signing of Virgil van Dijk really kickstarted the period of success which the Reds have enjoyed in recent years.

The Netherlands international was signed from Southampton in January 2018 for a whopping £75m and instantly transformed Jurgen Klopp’s side – helping the Anfield outfit win every major trophy possible since then.

Charlie Austin, a former teammate of our No. 4 during his time on the south coast, has revealed how close the 32-year-old was to joining Manchester United while Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Old Trafford outfit.

“I remember the back end of his Southampton career we were on the bench together at Chelsea away,” Austin told talkSPORT in 2021 (via MEN). “I sat there and I said, ‘Come on Virgil, what’s going on, surely Man United must’ve been in for you? Massive club in England, etc’. He said, ‘You know what Chaz, in the summer it was like between me or Lindelof and they signed Lindelof’.

READ MORE: Liverpool showing interest in ex-Man City prospect who’s tearing it up in the Bundesliga – report

“I was like, ‘You are joking!’ Nobody knows that, he told me that on the bench. I couldn’t believe it, I was just as gobsmacked as you. Obviously there was talk in the summer he was going to go there then they’ve gone and taken Lindelof instead.”

United must’ve been kicking themselves when van Dijk moved to Merseyside and made an instant impact just six months after they signed Victor Lindelof from Benfica instead.

The Dutchman has become recognised as one of the best defenders in the world since joining the club and is looking back to his absolute best this term having been handed the captain’s armband in the summer following the exit of Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia.

Let’s hope the skipper can add to his already impressive trophy collection this season after our dismal campaign last time out.

EOTK FPL Gameweek 12 Review : Tsimikas benching frustration, Palmer bargain? Time to sell Heung-min Son?

The post Virgil van Dijk’s former teammate recalls the moment he was told about the Dutchman’s failed Man Utd transfer appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Many have credited Virgil van Dijk with being back to his very best form already this season and even though it’s the international break, this has continued for the big man.

With the game nearing the final stages, Josh Cullen was handed a golden chance to get Ireland back into the game but he was met with our captain.

READ MORE: (Video) Alexander-Arnold calls out ‘selfish’ Ramsdale in England training

The huge tackle not only ensured the victory but also a place in the upcoming Euros for the Dutch.

The celebration from our No.4 showed just how much this moment meant to him and the rest of his nation.

You can watch Van Dijk’s tackle courtesy of NOS (via Baked_fish on Reddit):

Van Dijk last ditch tackle against Ireland
byu/Baked_fish inLiverpoolFC

Anfield Annals: Matt McQueen the Anfield All-Rounder who did everything in 36 years as a Red

The post (Video) Van Dijk back to impervious best with match-winning tackle for Netherlands appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

Virgil van Dijk has denied that being awarded the Liverpool captaincy has a ‘negative impact’ on his game and instead believes wearing the armband is ‘more of an incentive’.

The central defender, who also captains the Netherlands, was named Liverpool skipper following the departure of Jordan Henderson in the summer.

The former Southampton and Celtic man has looked back to his best so far this term and is appearing to thrive with the added responsibility.

“I naturally find it very beautiful and honourable,” van Dijk told Algemeen Dagblad (via 90min). “There’s a lot involved, perhaps even more at the club than at the national team.

“You have a lot of responsibility towards the entire team, especially the younger boys, and also towards the club as a whole. It certainly doesn’t have a negative impact on my game. Not exactly: it is more of an incentive.”

READ MORE: ‘He’s world class’ – Jose Enrique explains why 25-y/o Liverpool man wants to change position

Our No. 4 has become recognised as one of the best defenders in the world since joining the club in January of 2018.

After sustaining a knee injury during the 2020/21 campaign, however, the 32-year-old struggled to return to his best and was part of the Liverpool side that disappointed on all fronts last term.

The Dutchman is performing superbly this season and is yet to be dribbled past in the Premier League so far during the new campaign.

He’s winning the majority of his duels and looking sharp again which will only boost our chances of picking up some silverware this season.

EOTK FPL Gameweek 12 Review : Tsimikas benching frustration, Palmer bargain? Time to sell Heung-min Son?

The post Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool captaincy is an ‘incentive’ despite there being ‘a lot involved’ appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.

He’s back. 

It always seemed quite bizarre to throw criticism at the feet of Virgil van Dijk, a player whom many still hold in very high regard even without half a yard of pace.

Squawka’s stats, however, as released on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, indicate that Liverpool’s perhaps most valuable asset has returned to the peak of his powers.

It's official, Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back in the Premier League right now:

◉ Highest duel success (10+ contested)
◉ 0 errors leading to shots
◉ 0 dispossessions
◉ 0 x dribbled past

VVD is back.

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 14, 2023

Remember the days of rival fans praying that it would be their side, their tricky dribbler, who would be the first to worm their way past our Dutch colossus?

READ MORE: The left-footed centre-backs Liverpool should consider signing, according to ChatGPT

READ MORE: Transfer insider confirms Liverpool ready for January bidding war over £25m-£30m defender – report

Just how good is Virgil van Dijk?

Remember the furore over former Arsenal man Nicolas Pepe being the first man to find a way past our No.4 back in 2019 in his last 50 matches in Premier League football?

Utter insanity.

Though Virgil can’t take all the credit for our defensive solidity this term, he’s no doubt a big reason why we’ve maintained the joint-best defensive record in the league alongside Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.

The best centre-back in the league? Without a doubt. The best in the world? We’ll leave that up to you to decide!

EOTK FPL Gameweek 12 Review : Tsimikas benching frustration, Palmer bargain? Time to sell Heung-min Son?

The post Liverpool player isn’t getting credit he deserves as data proves he’s the Premier League’s best – opinion appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.