Liverpool strolled to an easy win over Sheffield United on Thursday night in a win that told us that this team is not a classic Jurgen Klopp side.
We’ve got used to the German’s side playing that ‘heavy metal football’. The furious, by-the-seat-of-your-pants stuff that made his Borussia Dortmund unit so exciting to watch, but the brand of football that also delivered less success than they deserved.
The same was true of those early incarnations of Liverpool. Frantic, free-flowing and fantastic to watch going forward – there were weaknesses at the back and they seemed welded to a lighting, counter-attack style of football.
But as they’ve improved and been tweaked the have turned into a different beast. Liverpool can still score on the break, as Sadio Mane’s goal against Sheffield United showed, but they’ve also been forced to learn how to play with possession and break down sides who are intent to suffocate space.
United didn’t press on Thursday night but they did make life difficult by ceding possession and playing with good organisation and structure. Leicester City tried to do the same thing and gave Liverpool acres of room to use, but the result was the same – goals and another clean sheet for Alisson.
Sheff let the Reds play more successful passes than any other side in the Premier League era, which isn’t something we’d immediately associate with a Jurgen Klopp side. There is no doubt the German is one of the best in the world. He’s been able to shape and mould his own vision to suit the club, and to adapt it to suit the league and the players he has.
As the years go on and the German ticks down towards the end of his improved contract, there is no doubt that we’ll see another version yet again. That’s what the best do.
When we started this journey together, the football played looked a lot different. In that regard, this is not a Klopp team any more. It’s not a Klopp team any more, it’s something far superior than that.