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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Jamie Carragher pinpoints key to Liverpool's success under Jurgen Klopp

Jamie Carragher claims Liverpool's recent success is due to Jurgen Klopp turning the Reds into "ruthless" winning machine, rather than a side which plays "exhilarating" football.

When Klopp arrived at Anfield in 2015, he quickly implemented the high-tempo, all-out-pressing style of play he had grown famous for as Borussia Dortmund boss.

The changes led to some incredible matches, including the dramatic 4-3 Europa League win over Dortmund in 2016.

But the Reds lost their first three cup finals under the German and narrowly missed out on the league title in 2019.

And Carragher believes Klopp has toned down his 'heavy metal football' in favour of a more pragmatic style which has brought about Champions League and Premier League glory over the past two years.

Carragher compared Klopp's side to the legendary Liverpool teams of the '70s and '80s (REUTERS)

The former Liverpool defender wrote in his new book 'The Greatest Games': "Some of the football Liverpool played that [2013/14] season with Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez, was out of this world and maybe more exciting in some ways than what you've seen in the last few years.

"And if you go back to when Philippe Coutinho was in the team and the first season of Mohamed Salah [2017-18], that was possibly the most exciting team to watch.

"But that team couldn't win the league either. In Klopp's early years, the football was amazing. That run to the 2018 Champions League final, winning the end-to-end semi-final against Roma 7-6.

Will Liverpool defend their Premier League title this season? Have your say here.

Klopp has toned down his "exhilarating" style to become a "ruthless" winner, according to Carragher (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"The football was exhilarating. Now it's more machine-like and ruthless. The Liverpool teams of the Seventies and early Eighties were probably also more machine-like; relentless and sprinkled with bits of greatness.

"I actually think this current side is closer to those teams than it is to [Kenny Dalglish's] Liverpool of the late Eighties."

Carragher insists Klopp's change of style has led to an emphasis on the team in contrast to the previous focus on talismans such as Coutinho or Suarez.

He added: "There's no real passenger in this team. Coutinho came out and they didn't really replace him; they haven't really got that type of player.

"Today it's not really about take-your-breath-away. It's relentless goals, sprints, running in behind.

"When I watch this team at their best, it's a team, not individuals. They just don't stop. You wouldn't want to play against them."

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