Liverpool evolved under Jurgen Klopp from Oct 2015 – July 2020
Part two of a five part series on the Reds’ progress under Jürgen Klopp. Read part one here.
Two years on from taking charge, the October 2017 4-1 away defeat at Spurs was a watershed moment for Klopp and the team.
When the history of ‘Kloppo’ and Liverpool is written, his first two years as manager up to this game, will show his impact compared to his predecessor was negligible – save the cup finals. Attacking fluidity was evident but so were defensive frailties with goals consistently being leaked at the back.
The difference under Klopp however, was a belief and witness that a pattern of play was emerging and steady albeit slow improvements were in evidence with a change in personnel on the pitch emerging.
This was also a man who knew what winning was. In the German Bundesliga, despite the considerable disadvantage to Bayern Munich, Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund went toe to toe with the Bavarians and edged them out with two titles achieved.
Klopp had experience of climbing mountains.
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It took a while for the Brendon Rodgers team to ‘move out’. For all the talk about revolution, that simply did not happen. This was an evolutionary transition.
Jurgen Klopp persisted with several underperforming players he inherited in the hope that they would improve with his methods. New signings were made but were meticulously vetted and conditioned in ‘the Liverpool way.’
It was obvious for some time including the Europa League final in 2016 but the defeat and performance at Spurs’ temporary home Wembley, was brutal in exposing yet again, shortcomings at the back.
The combination of Simon Mignolet, Alberto Moreno and Dejan Lovren were consistently calamitous. Against Spurs, Lovren suffered the ignominy of being substituted in the first half.
By the end of this campaign, Moreno was dislodged at left back by former Queens Park and Hull City defender Andy Robertson. Who would have thought that this £8m signing from a relegated team would subsequently join the Tartan Hall of Famers at Anfield and become one of the best in the business?
Equally, Klopp ended the season with a new right back – Trent Alexander-Arnold, who made his debut under the German in 2016 but come May, anchored his position. Mignolet too eventually lost his place in goal to Loris Karius who based on performances was hardly an upgrade.
This story however, had another twist to come.
With harsh lessons learnt following the ‘Wembley wobble’, Liverpool went on to lose only three more Premier League games all season resulting in Champions League qualification with a 4th place finish.
This was the record breaking first season of Mohamed Salah who scored more goals in a 38 game Premier League season than anyone before him. Salah was a sensational signing from AS Roma, who scored on his debut at Watford and continued game after game.
This was the player who had a disastrous first spell in English football at Chelsea. Nobody in their wildest dreams would have thought that this was the same player.
Riaz Ravat is a member of Liverpool FC’s Equality & Diversity Fan Forum. He writes in his own capacity.