Following Jurgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool and the swift appointment of Arne Slot in the summer of 2024, Jamie Carragher has stirred debate by claiming the German coach surpasses Arsenal legend Arsène Wenger. Unsurprisingly, former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere strongly disagrees.
Klopp, who took charge in October 2015 after his success at Borussia Dortmund, quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s top managers, often mentioned in the same breath as Wenger. While Sir Alex Ferguson set the standard and Pep Guardiola has continued that legacy, the comparison between Klopp and Wenger remains hotly contested.
Both managers have strong arguments supporting their greatness. However, Liverpool icon Carragher, who made 737 appearances for the club, expressed on X (formerly Twitter) that Klopp deserves to be ranked higher—especially due to his Champions League triumph and multiple final appearances.
> “I would rate Klopp above Wenger. He’s won the Champions League and reached three other finals. Wenger only reached one. Wenger did incredibly well to challenge Man Utd with fewer resources, but once Chelsea’s money came in, Arsenal couldn’t keep up. Klopp, on the other hand, competed with Man City, Man Utd, and Chelsea—clubs spending billions!”
Wilshere, who played 197 times under Wenger, responded firmly, arguing Carragher’s take was unfair and dismissive of Wenger’s long-lasting legacy.
> “Klopp did an amazing job transforming Liverpool, but Arsène’s influence on the Premier League is unmatched. Sorry Jamie, but you’re way off here. Please don’t be biased—show some respect for what Wenger achieved over a longer time. He led the only unbeaten team in Premier League history!
> People rightly praise Pep for revolutionizing football in England, but don’t forget Wenger did the same when he arrived in 1996. You know that era better than I do—don’t ignore it!”
So, who truly stands above the other? Let’s compare their Premier League records using four key metrics: title wins, win percentages, career length, and average points per match.
Managerial Longevity
Wenger led Arsenal for 22 years
Wenger’s reign at Arsenal was considerably longer than Klopp’s at Liverpool. Taking over in October 1996 and leaving in June 2018, he managed a total of 1,234 games—828 of them in the Premier League.
Klopp, on the other hand, managed for eight seasons and left on his own terms, which helped preserve his status as a beloved figure among Liverpool fans. While Wenger’s extended stay brought many highs, it also included later years marked by instability and off-field challenges.
Premier League Titles
Wenger: 3 | Klopp: 1
Wenger clinched three Premier League titles during his time at Arsenal—in 1997/98, 2001/02, and the legendary unbeaten season of 2003/04. However, he often had to contend with a dominant Manchester United led by Ferguson.
Klopp led Liverpool to their first-ever Premier League title in 2019/20, ending a 30-year drought. While it was a shorter stint, the significance of that triumph—especially over big-spending rivals—cannot be understated.
Premier League Win Rate
Klopp: 62.57% | Wenger: 58%
This metric helps level the playing field by factoring out the length of each manager’s career. Wenger won 476 of his 828 league games (58%), with 199 draws and 153 losses.
Klopp oversaw 334 Premier League games, winning 209 of them. His 62.57% win rate outshines Wenger’s, though it’s important to note Klopp’s shorter tenure likely made maintaining such consistency easier.
Points Per Match
Klopp: 2.11 | Wenger: 1.96
This stat offers further insight into performance consistency. Wenger amassed 1,627 points across 828 matches, averaging 1.96 points per game—a solid figure considering the era and competition.
Klopp, with 705 points from 334 matches, averaged 2.11 points per game—one of the highest in league history. His standing places him third all-time, while Wenger ranks seventh, behind names like Mourinho, Conte, and Mancini.
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