Raymond Verheijen's long-running outburst towards Jurgen Klopp could become a thing of the past after the outspoken Dutchman finally praised the Liverpool's managers methods on Wednesday.
The Dutch fitness coach has been Klopp's most fierce critic since the German became Liverpool manager back in October 2015, repeatedly bemoaning the 'gegenpress' philosophy.
Verheijen, who was part of Gary Speed's backroom staff with the Wales national side, has often attributed injuries in the Liverpool squad down to Klopp's training methods.
"Liverpool manager Klopp has run his players into the ground during pre-season," he tweeted last season.
"Consequently, players cannot perform during an entire season.
"Most people in football have opinions on hindsight. Liverpool crumbling in 2nd half of season was already predicted multiple times in August
"Overall, Klopp is one of the best managers in the world. But he clearly has some flaws in his pre-season training methods. Raise your bar!"
The Dutchman has previous for this kind of baiting, and Klopp was even moved to make a withering put down last season.
And while Verheijen has also been previously critical of the likes of Antonio Conte and Arsene Wenger, it is perhaps Klopp who has come under fire most.
Here's a brief history of Verheijen's complaints.
If I call Klopp a pancake, it gets personal
After blaming Liverpool's history of hamstring injuries on Klopp's trademark high-intensity approach, Verheijen came under fire.
He insisted: “As I’d call it, Klopp is a pancake, but it would not make sense because then you make it personal.
“I do not make baseless opinions about the person, but come with facts and laws about the trainer."
Some Dutch guy
After another rant about fitness and Verheijen's famed "principles of periodisation" on Twitter, Klopp actually moved to aim a thinly veiled dig at the coach during a press conference in October 2016.
Speaking about his side's hectic schedule, which coincided with an alarming slump in form, Klopp said: "We play two games in 48 hours [at Christmas], there will be injuries and then some Dutch guy [on Twitter] will say things."
Verheijen of course, did not take the barb lightly, and he resumed his Twitter feud within hours of Klopp's conference.
"Liverpool manager Klopp caused 20 hamstring injuries in 10 months but keeps blaming external factors for injuries.
"The press conference by Liverpool coach Klopp is a great lesson for all coaches. Never let 'a Dutch guy' or anyone else get under your skin."
A white flag
After watching the Reds plunder the goals and rise towards the summit of the Premier League in November 2016, Verheijen once again took to Twitter - but this time it was to offer some glowing praise for Klopp's work.
In a surprise twist, the 45-year-old gushed about the German and of how the Liverpool boss' appearance on Monday Night Football in September that year was a huge eye-opener to younger and less-esteemed coaches.
"Another must see for all young coaches," tweeted Verheijen with a link to Klopp's appearance alongside Jamie Carragher.
"Liverpool manager Klopp talking about the thinking behind his approach.
"More top coaches should get the opportunity and take their time to talk about the thinking behind their approach."
Truce over
However, any truce ended after the fitness guru's launched a series of tweets of admonishment for Klopp and his way of playing.
"When the Liverpool dip was predicted last August the fans were laughing because Liverpool was winning," was his told-you-so tweet later that season.
"But are they still laughing now? Liverpool is not even playing in Europe.
"Just imagine how squeezed the LFC players would have been if they had played CL or EL this season.
"After a few seasons the Dortmund players were totally squeezed by Klopp: many muscle injuries, several ACL injuries & relegation problems.
"Hopefully, the next generation of coaches will learn from mistakes made by current generation of Klopp & Co. #playersdeservebettercoaches".
Lallana injury? That'll be Klopp's fault
The news that Adam Lallana had suffered a long-term injury shortly before the start of the current Premier League season once again brought Verheijen out to criticise Klopp.
The England international suffered a thigh injury in that kept him out until November and Verheijen went on the attack when the news was confirmed on August 9.
Verheijen said: "OMG. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp exhausted his players on purpose one day before pre-season friendly games.
So the Lallana injury is just the logical consequence of a deliberate choice to force tired players to play games after accumulating fatigue
"Players who accumulate fatigue have a slower nervous system & less coordination. For these players playing a game is like Russian roulette."
Humble pie?
With Klopp's team embroiled in a battle for second in the Premier League and almost certain of qualification to the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 2009, Liverpool are well placed under Klopp just now.
The Reds boss also has a clean bill of health across his squad, which serves as testament to the German's rotation policy - particularly across the hectic festive period - and the expertise of the club's medical and sports science staff.
Such positive injury news has seen Verheijen praise Klopp somewhat for 'learning from previous mistakes'.
“Encouraging to see managers like Jurgen Klopp are not too old to learn from their mistakes in previous seasons," said the outspoken Verheijen
“It has taken him two years but Liverpool manager Klopp has finally found his way to deal with the external factors in the English Premier League.”
