5 qualities Liverpool need to find to have success in 2018
By David Gate
No.2 – Patience
Liverpool have one solution to every problem: Pace. Klopp’s side do everything at 100 miles an hour. If we’re level we try to hit them fast. If we’re winning we try to get another on the break. If we’re losing we try to pound them until they capitulate.
It is the proverbial hammer seeing everything as a nail. Now let’s be clear: we are REALLY good at that. Probably the devastating quick breaking attack in Europe. Yet there are other qualities needed in specific game situations against different opponents.
For most of Brendan Rodgers time at Liverpool the Reds were guilty of too much patience. We dominated the possession stats for three and a half seasons. After Suarez left in 2014 we had no complementing incision and a great team became a weak one over night.
Klopp took things in another direction. The additions of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have given the frontline a devastating array of quick minded, quick footed forwards. But sometimes we need to get hold of the ball keep it and make the opposition run.
The player Klopp has used most for this quality is Adam Lallana. He is not a pass first midfielder or a pace merchant. He likes to hold onto the ball, create space and do a trademark Lallana turn. We could do with bringing him back into a regular rotation sooner rather than later.