andrew mckee

trying to be a runner...

[Abiola Adesina @Arbihorla]

Jürgen Klopp once summed up Ragnar Klavan perfectly when discussing the defenders who helped Liverpool through the early years of his rebuild:

"He was incredibly important for us. A top professional, always ready when we needed him, and someone the dressing room respected enormously."

And that perfectly captures why so many Liverpool supporters still have a soft spot for the Estonian defender.

When people talk about Klopp's early Liverpool rebuild, the conversation usually goes straight to Salah, Mané, Firmino, or the arrival of Virgil van Dijk.

But there was another player who quietly played an important role during that period.

Ragnar Klavan.

And the truth is, he never got the credit he deserved.

Signed from Augsburg in 2016 for a relatively modest fee, Klavan arrived with very little fanfare. He wasn't a superstar. He wasn't a headline signing. Most supporters viewed him as squad depth.

Nothing more.

But football has a funny way of exposing who can handle pressure when it matters most.

Klavan did exactly that.

Liverpool were still evolving under Klopp. The attacking football was exciting, but the team often looked vulnerable defensively. Every defender was under scrutiny.

Klavan walked into that environment and simply got on with his job.

No drama.

No complaints.

No ego.

Just professionalism.

Whenever Klopp called his number, he was ready.

And what made him stand out wasn't pace or physical dominance.

It was composure.

The Estonian international always looked calm.

Even when opponents pressed aggressively, Klavan rarely panicked. He trusted his positioning, trusted his reading of the game, and often played his way out of trouble with remarkable confidence.

Supporters even joked about the famous "Klavan turn" whenever he effortlessly escaped pressure.

It became part of his cult-hero status.

Then came one of the most memorable moments of his Liverpool career.

January 1st, 2018.

Burnley away.

Turf Moor.

A difficult place to visit at the best of times.

Liverpool were locked at 1-1 deep into stoppage time. The game looked destined to end in frustration.

Then the ball dropped inside the box.

Chaos.

Bodies everywhere.

And somehow, Ragnar Klavan reacted quickest.

94th minute.

Goal.

Liverpool win 2-1.

The away end erupted.

Klavan sprinted away in celebration while teammates piled on top of him.

It was his first Premier League goal.

And it couldn't have arrived at a bigger moment.

For many supporters, that goal perfectly summed him up.

Never the main character.

Never the biggest name.

But always ready when Liverpool needed him.

That's why so many Liverpool fans still remember him fondly.

He accepted his role.

He respected the badge.

He contributed during an important transitional period for the club.

And when called upon in Premier League matches, domestic cups, or Champions League nights, he never hid.

Not every hero at a football club costs £75 million.

Not every important player dominates headlines.

Some simply arrive, do their job, help move the club forward, and leave with the respect of the supporters.

Ragnar Klavan was one of those players.

Reliable.

Professional.

Underrated.

And forever remembered for that unforgettable New Year's Day winner at Turf Moor.

#LFC #LiverpoolFC #RagnarKlavan #YNWA #Anfield #PremierLeague #FootballStories #ProperFootball

[cinesthetic. @TheCinesthetic]

Alan Ford as Brick Top in Snatch (2000) is a villain so vile he’s almost magnetic. Every line he delivers drips with menace and dark humor. Guy Ritchie said Ford scared the entire crew on set, even when the cameras weren’t rolling.

[💜Music is Love💜 @Hoainguyen888]

This will forever remain the greatest loss and the most powerful message ever. Every time I watch it again, my emotions change; it's impossible to rewind this.🥹😢

Don't wait to be happy, be happy, be happy now.💖💖

[Alan Smith @AlanJLSmith]

Have you watched The Manosphere with Louis Theroux on Netflix?

As the Dad of a 17 year old son, I think @jimmycarr is spot on.

What do you think?

[steve @bagshaw2112]

Today’s #classic #comedyskit comes from the great Hale & Pace . They wouldn’t get away with these things nowadays I suppose. #haleandpace

[Doctor Frusna @doctorfrusna]

La fuerza interpretativa de #RobertDuvall era algo descomunal, hiciera el papel que hiciese 🖤
#SecondhandLions #MichaelCaine #HaleyJoelOsment

[George Roush @GeorgeRoush]

I loaned my 1971 Lincoln to a highschool as a teaching aid.

They were learning classic restoration on it. Look at the miracle they pulled off:

[Matt Casey 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇬🇧 @MattCas04807118]

A reminder of when comedy was actually funny.😊

Warning to youngsters and wokesters, don’t as you might laugh.🙁

[Benonwine @benonwine]

John Cleese on the TV Licence!

Spot on then and Spot On NOW!

[The Sting @TheStingisBack]

The Hunt for Red October turns 36 today.
One of the greatest thrillers ever made, it favoured intellectual tension over explosions. It also features one of the best ensemble casts, with Connery on blistering form. Was Alec Baldwin the best Jack Ryan? The debate rages on.

[john @cinBPKu0jE67345]

The Beatles - Two Of Us