Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is an elite football manager and coach. However some of his strengths become bad weaknesses in the January transfer window.
Having Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager felt surreal. He was one of the most respected and like football managers in the world. He took Borussia Dortmund back to the top of European football. When FSG fired Brendan Rodgers and appointed Klopp it felt like we’d won the football manager lottery.
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Anfield is yet to see the success that Dortmund showed under his leadership but the progress is clear. The Reds have adopted the manager’s style of frenetic, attacking football. As the goal’s for column will show you, this team can beat anyone and drop four goals while they’re doing it.
Liverpool have had sides like that before in the Premier League era but that felt tied to one or two individual’s special ability – Suarez, Torres and of course Gerrard. This is side is not just about one player or even two. It is built into the fabric of the way they play.
Above all Jurgen Klopp has brought a belief in his players. He trusts them and that breeds loyalty back to him and his bidding. He also carries a confidence in himself; the belief he can work out the problems and coach players into success.
It is this magnetic confidence and enthusiasm which attracts good players to Anfield. It is not the surface level vanity that marked Rodgers time at Liverpool; he has no paintings of himself. It is genuine belief built on actual success and a secure personal identity.
Believing in himself and his players is what make Jurgen Klopp good at his job. However, these strengths have flip-sides. They actually become weaknesses in the January transfer window.
Confidence or Hubris?
Klopp’s optimistic view of the squad has led to the group being unnecessarily weakened in this window. The loss of Philippe Coutinho is huge. He had 12 goals and 8 assists in less than 4 months. Looking at Danny Ings, Dominic Solanke and Adam Lallana to recreate that in the last four months of the season is insane. It is overconfidence to point of hubris.
There is much criticism of FSG’s spending record – much of it justified – but their biggest fault at Liverpool is the lack of leadership and accountability. I’m sure Jurgen Klopp enjoys the space and freedom to make all the football decisions at Liverpool but he also needs a more robust hierarchy that can challenge him and help him see the blind spots within the club.
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Letting Philippe Coutinho leave – and that is the manager’s decision above all – and allowing Daniel Sturridge to leave on loan is a huge gamble for the manager. He has to hope that his confidence is correctly placed and Liverpool are stronger than many inside and outside club believe.