Jurgen Klopp needs trophies more than top-four finishes at Liverpool, insists club legend Robbie Fowler

Finishing second to Manchester City this season should not be cause for celebration at Liverpool, according to club legend Robbie Fowler.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are unbeaten in the Premier League and have won nine of their opening 12 matches, but remain two points behind imperious defending champions City.

There is a broader sense of upward momentum at Anfield but Klopp is still looking for his first trophy as Liverpool boss, and Fowler is adamant that silverware is the benchmark for success.

Asked on Sky Sports’ ‘The Debate’ show if finishing in the top four without a trophy should be considered enough for Liverpool this season, Fowler replied: “For me, no. It really isn't it because I'm not one of these fans that think you should be celebrating finishing fourth. I think a chairman or the owners should be the ones celebrating.

“For me that's celebrating mediocrity. I've always wanted to win stuff. I wanted to be remembered for what trophies I won as opposed to where I finished in the league. I understand why clubs are happy finishing in the top four but I think a club the size of Liverpool's stature should be finishing in the top four all the time anyway.

“As I said before, there comes a time when you need to win a trophy. I don't care if it's a League Cup. People will belittle that but I've won one, it's a brilliant trophy. When you think of football in terms of what you can win there's an FA Cup, a League Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League. There are only four trophies so it's tough.”

City broke almost every Premier League record en route to winning the title with 100 points last season, and Pep Guardiola’s men are setting an historic standard at the top again this term.

Fowler acknowledges that Liverpool’s task in unseating City is a formidable one, but is adamant that Klopp’s success at the club will ultimately be judged on trophies.

“A gauge [of success] is getting as high up in the league as they can,” he added. “As much as we talk about Liverpool being this unbelievable side who are easy on the eye and great to watch, there comes a time when you need to start winning stuff.

“I think Jurgen Klopp's getting together a great, great squad but I think one of the problems we have is Manchester City are brilliant.

“That's one of the big problems. You can get a wonderful side put together but you've got to try and catch them and then hang onto their coat tails.”