With the arrival of Jurgen Klopp Liverpool have made their biggest signing at the time of the deal since Fernando Torres in 2007. No doubt about this, the Fenway Sports Group have made a massive statement with the appointment of the charismatic German. Klopp and the Kop look a match made in heaven, his passion and style fits with the fans and what Liverpool want to achieve. However Liverpool fans have to be careful not to be left disappointed again if things don't go as expected.
Firstly, Liverpool fans have been talking of top four finish this season and challenging for the title next season. It's easier said than done. Liverpool currently have the 5th best squad in league. Normally for a team to finish above general expectations you need at least two of three to happen. 1) Have a manager who's better than those with better squads (Liverpool probably have a better manager than some of their top 4 managers), (2) You have to have certain players playing at the absolute peak of their powers (Luis Suarez 13/14) and (3) A fellow rival having a poor season (Man Utd 13/14). Liverpool have number 1. As of right now nobody is helping in regards number 2, and number 3 Chelsea are doing well to help with that, and in all honesty you do expect Chelsea to start pushing towards the top 4 places at some point except they pull off a Dortmund and have a vastly poor season.
In regards to Dortmund comes the second and more important point. Dortmund spent the majority of last season flirting with relegation before finally getting themselves to a still disappointing 7th. Robert Lewandowski would be a massive loss for any team, especially when you couple that with injuries and poor form from certain players. But isn't that the exact same thing that happened to Rodgers in 14/15 and in a more difficult league? Make no mistake, this is no comparism between Rodgers and Klopp. It's a thorough examination of the chances of Klopp being the new Wenger in the negative aspects Arsenal fans criticize him for.
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| The similarities between Wenger and Klopp are too much to overlook |
Arsenal fans complain of Wenger's insistence on certain players in certain positions (Mertasacker, Arteta = Kehl, Immobile), stubbornness to change style (4-2-3-1 and passing philosophy for Arsenal, 4-2-3-1 and high press from Dortmund), constant sale of key players to rivals which diminishes their chances of success (Van persie, Nasri see Götze & Lewandowski). Add that to the fact that Wenger also has to deal with injuries to key players every season (Wilshere, Van Persie see Reus, Gundogan) and you can see the similarities. Wenger inspite of all these problems managed to finish in UCL places each time. Klopp couldn't do that in his final season.
Another interesting thing i thought about whilst writing this article was quality of teams that actually pursued Klopp. The German was available during the summer and in his defence only the Real Madrid job was available but he wasn't even in the reckoning for that with names like Paco Jemez of Rayo making it. Yes, people would say Madrid wanted a Spanish coach but surely if Klopp was part of the crème de la crème of managers in Europe he would have surely made it to the shortlist. In 2013, after making it to the Champions league final, almost every top club were looking for new managers, Real Madrid, Barca, Bayern, Chelsea, Man City, Juventus, Man Utd, PSG. Klopp could have gotten anyone of choice at the time, but he decided to stay and said at the time "I promise that everything will work out in the end. We are building a new team, a new pressing machine." He failed to live up to that promise as he finished 19 points behind Bayern in 13/14 and at the end of his reign he was offered jobs as coach of Mexico, Marseille, RB Leipzig, Milan & Liverpool (see the change in quality of teams).
Yes, Klopp won the Bundesliga twice but Bayern until 13/14 had been not won back to back titles since 05/06. Inconsistency allowed teams like Wolfsburg, Stuggart to win titles. Jupp Heynckes was in a rebuilding process from the LVG in 11/12 and when he finally got it right in 12/13 he blew a Dortmund team that contained (Gotze & Lewandowski) away by 25 points, beat them in the cup & UCL final. Sure Dortmund won many hearts that year (2013), but people forget they escaped Malaga in extremely controversial circumstances and faced a Real Madrid side that was at war against itself. (You see similarities to what was said earlier? Poor form from better teams helping out).
The last issue with Klopp is his philosophy. Don't get it twisted. Klopp's philosophy at it's best is simply football heaven. He explains it below:
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| This system won hearts and made Dortmund feared |
The problem with such football is that it is hugely energy sapping and tiresome and after a while the players become unable to continue mentally and physically as seen with injuries and laboured performances the Dortmund players had last season. Soccerbants expert Ore Yusuf also made note of this a while ago.
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| A joy to watch but hard too sustain with injuries and constant change of players |
"Gegenpressing" as Klopp calls it is something that could work at Liverpool. It was evident in large spells in the 13/14 season, but when the injuries and tiredness starts kicking in both club & manager have found it hard to cope. Liverpool capitulated in 13/14. Klopp resorted to long balls and crosses when teams counter pressed or ceded them possession to them. Exact same thing that was evident when he was initially trying to instill his philosophy at Dortmund. In essence Klopp took Dortmund from a low point to the pinnacle of European football and left them right where he met them (Similar to Wenger now? Picked Arsenal from sleeping giants to champions and Arsenal could be said to be sleeping giants again). For those thinking the problem was with the players, notice how Thomas Tuchel has Dortmund playing quality football again with a different style.
In all, Klopp is a brilliant acquisition from Liverpool and the charisma, motivation and quality of football he brings would surely push Liverpool far and would probably meet expectations of UCL football during the 3 years he signed up for, but would he be able to use his aura & philosophy to galvanise Liverpool to the title like he and their fans expect in 4 years? That's a different story when you consider the tiring nature his style brings.
