After ruthlessly trimming his squad in summer, Jürgen Klopp has formed a formidable side what he thinks is well capable of executing his style of football. He has successfully injected his ‘heavy metal football’ and the players have responded well so far by providing a splendid start in this new campaign.
The Reds are in the title race with 23 points after 10 league games, same as league leaders Manchester City and second-placed Arsenal, only behind on goal difference. The ‘fantastic four’ of the Reds (Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana) have successfully executed pressing and counter-pressing upfront. They are also tracking back in order to provide enough defensive cover and helping the midfield to cope up with opposition’s attack by not allowing them to play a lot of passes. In short, they are portraying Klopp’s ‘gegenpressing’ in the most dignified way.
However, there is still doubt whether Klopp’s blueprint will work for the entire 2016-17 campaign. Premier League cannot be won in November, neither top four is guaranteed this early. There is plenty to be played for and squad strength is the topmost priority in order to stay in the title race.
Brendan Rodgers, the former Reds boss, failed to form a decent bench during his three and a half years of tenure whereas Klopp did it in less than a year time. He now has good backup options almost in every position: from the last line of defence to attacking third, there are players who can change the game coming from the bench. Rodgers used to wait for star striker Daniel Sturridge to be fit again to feature. The scenario has completely changed now: a ‘fit Daniel Sturridge’ is waiting among the substitutes to have his opportunity.
From number one defensive option last season to being frozen among the reserves thus on the verge of getting sold in winter, Klopp has answered Mamadou Sakho’s indiscipline and indecency in the most unsympathetic manner. One thing is clear, he is in charge here and the gaffer doesn’t depend on any particular individual no matter how influential he is.
But the manager himself has modified his approach in order to adjust with the high-intensity Premier League outings week in week out. Earlier during his Borussia Dortmund days, he used to rely on a goal-poaching number 9 (Lucas Barrios followed by Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang). Similarly, he tried it out with big centre- forward Christian Benteke during his first season in English football, but the big Belgian failed to live up to the expectations due to lack of work ethics and immoderate dependency on wing-play.
Daniel Sturridge is suffering from similar crisis this season, meanwhile, young Belgian Divock Origi has emerged as the new sensation who has mutated under Klopp and possibly the next-gen superstar similar to Barrios, Lewandowski and Aubameyang who joined Dortmund with little reputation.
Despite impressing with his quality, even Origi is not getting enough starts as Roberto Firmino has slotted himself perfectly in a ‘false 9’ role. Moreover, no European football has been a blessing in disguise so far as they have not suffered any significant injuries (except Danny Ings who has injured his knee and ruled out for the entire campaign once again) due to less amount of matches compared to the likes of both Manchester Clubs, Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Klopp will face a tricky time during 14th January- 5th February because of the absence of Sadio Mane for international duty with Senegal in African Cup of Nations ahead of crunch Premier League ties against Manchester United and Chelsea. To add to it, Ings is out for the remainder of the campaign what might force him to rope in another winger in January transfer window with Borussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic in his sight as the American teenager has previously been scouted by the Reds extensively.
Klopp is well aware of his team’s strength and weakness. He will unfold his strategies in order to pursue his ‘gegenpressing’ which has earned him early success in Premier League; rest is depending upon his men who have vowed not to let him walk alone.
