Jürgen Klopp asked the media not to “make a big thing” out of his disappointment at seeing dozens of Liverpool fans leave Anfield shortly after Scott Dann’s late winner for Crystal Palace. It was a forlorn request and not only because a Liverpool manager feeling “pretty alone” and staring incredulously at early-leavers made for a good story. Klopp’s first statement as Liverpool manager concerned belief and Sunday confirmed the restoration is incomplete. Hence the big thing.
Palace’s visit to Anfield came a month after Klopp arrived in Liverpool and their third consecutive win in the Premier League fixture brought his unbeaten start to an abrupt halt. Unnecessarily, insisted the former Borussia Dortmund coach, who now has the international break to stew on the avoidable defeat and to finally assess his early weeks in charge.
Klopp said prior to Palace there had been no time for reflection with having to prepare for seven games in four weeks. Aside from Sunday’s result and Liverpool’s sluggish start to a compelling game, he has been hugely encouraged by the players’ reaction to managerial change and the quality he insists is at the club’s disposal.
The new man has introduced more and later training sessions, training the evening before a night game for example, and restricted access to Melwood for family and friends of the players – not the kind of moves that always win favour with players but Klopp is interested only in winning matches.
His passion for the game, training methods – with an emphasis on positional play and game strategy – and title-winning pedigree, have so far met with widespread approval from the Liverpool squad. Considering Klopp’s comment that “we have to do it one way and that is my way” on his first day in charge, they do not have much choice.
Liverpool’s latest defeat showed the flaws that conspired to get Brendan Rodgers the sack have not been and cannot be eradicated within a month. Profligacy in front of goal and a return of the defensive frailties that Klopp got to work on immediately were familiar, to supporters if not the manager. Statistically there is no great contrast between Liverpool’s current and previous managers – passing accuracy and possession have dipped slightly under Klopp, as had shots on goal before Sunday – and the 48-year-old has lost as many games in his first seven matches as Rodgers did in his final seven. They are working with the same players, after all.
Yet the former Borussia Dortmund coach has made an impact beyond the feelgood factor of his ambitious appointment. The confusion that characterised the end of the Northern Irishman’s reign, with several players out of position and frequent formation changes, has lifted and a clear, unified team structure has taken its place. Character, often called into question during Rodgers’ time, helped Liverpool come from behind to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and in their initially dominant reaction to Yannick Bolasie’s opener for Palace.
Klopp told every player at their introductory meeting they were starting with a clean slate and they have responded. Lucas Leiva has flourished in the past month having seemed for ever on the brink of departure under the previous manager. Young players who took their chance against Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup have remained involved, with Cameron Brannagan and João Teixeira on the bench against Alan Pardew’s side. It would be remiss to dismiss Rodgers’ work, however, and Klopp has credited his predecessor with creating a strong squad intelligent enough to adapt to new methods.
How strong he truly believes the squad is, and elements of the Palace performance exposed Liverpool’s lack of quality in crucial areas, will be revealed in future transfer windows.
Despite his engaging personality and colourful reputation, Klopp’s press conferences have been relatively low-key. His laughter has been activated more by questions he finds peculiar than any bonhomie, while searching for the right English word to make his point remains a source of irritation. There is a serious, business-like manner to the new manager. Encouragingly for supporters, he gives the distinct impression of just wanting to get on with the job of making Liverpool successful. The rest he can do without.
Klopp wants everyone at Anfield to buy into the belief that Liverpool can be a force again, which explains his dismay at the sight of supporters leaving early on Sunday. The team must set that tone, he clarified, and was as good as his word during the game. He opted to pursue victory at 1-1 against Palace and introduced Roberto Firmino, not Joe Allen, for the struggling Emre Can. The decision backfired but the intent was clear, so too when he urged Liverpool to press forward in greater numbers against the Palace defence. “Between 82 and 94 [minutes] you can make eight goals if you like” was Klopp’s message to his players and supporters after the 2-1 defeat. It may take longer than a month to convince everyone but there is no disguising the ambition.
