Liverpool fans will be a happy lot right now. The Reds go into the international break sitting at the top of the Premier League, one point above Chelsea and two points above Manchester City and Arsenal. A rampant display last weekend against Watford which ended 6-1 in favour of the Reds has intensified the fuss about Liverpool’s chance going all the way and claiming the biggest prize in English football after almost three decades.
Jürgen Klopp has been in charge of the Merseyside giants for a year and one month now and the work he has done is remarkable. There is a sense of confidence amongst the Liverpool players right now and that is the biggest victory Klopp has achieved yet. The German gaffer said in his very first press conference that he wanted to turn the fans from ‘doubters to believers’ and he has already done that.
So, where is the difference between the Liverpool of Brendan Rodgers and Jürgen Klopp? Well, there are so many things those have changed at Anfield over the last year. Liverpool have improved drastically in terms of the football they play but moreover, what Klopp has changed is the belief in both players and the fans that they can do big things.
Just like Klopp, Rodgers was an attack-minded manager but at times it seemed like even he does not know what he is doing. Under Klopp, Liverpool players look like machines who can run all day and press their opponents and force them to make mistakes. The movement of Klopp’s Liverpool is amazing and often unstoppable. That is why they have scored 30 goals from 11 Premier League games despite not playing a natural forward.
Rodgers often looked unsure of the tactics he wanted to deploy. Roberto Firmino struggled to make an impact under the now Celtic boss and it was not really the Brazilian’s fault. He just arrived at Anfield back then and needed time to adjust to life at Merseyside. If you play him as a right wing-back, it is a criminal offence to ask him to perform. Playing players out of position where they do not suit was one of the biggest reasons why Liverpool had a tough time under Rodgers.
The football Liverpool play now is much more fluid and Klopp knows what he is doing. He is also playing Henderson in an unnatural deeper role while a number ten by trade, Firmino is playing as a number nine. Coutinho was always a central player but he is performing excellently under Klopp despite playing out wide. Klopp knows how to get the best out of his players unlike Rodgers and that’s what has changed big time over the past year at Anfield.
Klopp’s passion for the game, sheer tactical knowledge and the flair of the Liverpool players have all worked together brilliantly for Liverpool. They are the team to beat in the Premier League right now. Well, the title talks should be dropped as of now. Let us now enjoy Klopp’s heavy metal football showcased at Anfield which even the Manchester United fans cannot deny that it is a treat to the eyes.