Bruce Grobbelaar was 'ecstatic' with the appointment of Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool manager and believes the German's humility has commanded the respect of fans.

A year and a month after the Reds hired the former Borussia Dortmund coach, they sit top of the Premier League and have scored 40 goals already this season in all competitions.

“He is a man of the people,” Grobbelaar told Liverpoolfc.com.

“On a given day, if you go into town to a little quiet pub or restaurant you might be sitting next to Jürgen Klopp – that’s the type of person he is. You might see him out. He is one for the people.”

The former Liverpool goalkeeper is currently back in the city where he played his football for 13 years, clocking up 628 appearances for the club.

He still closely follows the Reds wherever he is, of course, and has been buoyed by the development of Klopp’s team since his arrival.

A 6-1 rout of Watford at Anfield last weekend moved them to the summit of the league ahead of the international break – and Grobbelaar is excited by what can be achieved in the future.

He said: “When Jürgen Klopp came to Liverpool I was ecstatic.

“I knew his pedigree and what he did at Borussia Dortmund. What a job he did there. Their fans are like-minded to Scousers. They’re not as passionate but they are getting there.

“If he can do that to that team, he can do anything with the Scousers and our fans.

“I was blown away when he first said ‘Leave my name out of the chanting – chant for the players’. It’s absolutely true. He hasn’t won anything yet, so he’s playing it down as well.”