Five Liverpool ‘mistakes’ from Klopp in January

Sarah Winterburn

Liverpool began 2017 in second place in the Premier League; three weeks later they are staring fourth in the face after a run of three Premier League games without a victory. It’s the first time this has happened since last January and questions have been asked about team selection and substitutions…

 

1) 48 hours later…not making changes
Playing two games in less than 48 hours is ridiculous…but so is making only one change from one draining Premier League game to the next. Liverpool looked lethargic and leggy against the Black Cats on January 2, and it’s hardly surprising. The midfield pair of Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum were particular poor at the Stadium of Light and once again raised questions about Jurgen Klopp’s squad management; what exactly is the point of Kevin Stewart if he cannot be trusted with even a substitute’s appearance against possibly the worst side in the top flight?

We named Klopp as our ‘early loser’ after that 2-2 draw and attracted the ire of fans claiming it was simply an off-day. But we cannot help but think that Klopp could have avoided that ‘off-day’ by giving a few players – Can, Wijnaldum, Milner – a day off.

 

2) Not taking a chance on Phil
“Of course he will not be 100%…but this is Phil,” said Jurgen Klopp three days before Liverpool were travelling to Manchester United. The Brazilian had just produced a promising half-hour in an otherwise-dreary defeat to Southampton in the League Cup and the stage was set for the Brazilian to face United. In the absence of Sadio Mane, it looked like a no-brainer that Coutinho would be risked, with Roberto Firmino moving central to torment the United defence with his movement.

Instead, we got Divock Origi – compared to an avocado by one Liverpool fan in the Mailbox this week – trying his best but ultimately failing, with Liverpool lacking the dynamism and fluidity that had previously been described as a ‘swarm’. This was more ‘lukeswarm’ and Liverpool did not really spark until Coutinho came off the bench. The result was ultimately pleasing, but perhaps Liverpool would have been out of sight if they had started with two of their first-choice front three. He may not have been 100%…but…

 

3) Lallana on the wing again
We shall just leave this here…

Liverpool do not possess a natural replacement for Mane’s pace allied with intelligent running and excellent technical ability, but do you know who really isn’t even close to being a replacement? Adam Lallana. Where Mane stretches defences with his running in behind, Lallana comes to the ball, slowing down attacks and occupying the space where Nathaniel Clyne likes to do his damage. Lallana is a rejuvenated footballer, but he is not a rejuvenated winger; in that position he remains the infuriating player that underwhelmed in his first forays in a Liverpool shirt.

Jurgen Klopp said after the game that Swansea’s ‘wall’ had forced Liverpool to try and be clever. Surely it would have made sense to have your cleverest player in a position where taking time on the ball would be a help rather than a hindrance. You never know, Ben Woodburn and Ovie Ejaria could have emerged as mini-Manes if given the chance. Alternatively, Daniel Sturridge (with his pace, intelligent running and excellent technical ability) wasn’t a poor right-sided forward in his Chelsea days. Liverpool only looked truly dangerous when Lallana moved central against Swansea.

 

4) No Can do
That Henderson-Wijnaldum-Can triumvirate thrived in the battle against Manchester United, but a home clash with Swansea does not scream for the same stodgy midfield as an away game against an in-form top-four challenger at Old Trafford. Lallana’s tireless running and timeless intelligence should have been given a home in midfield, with Can reduced to a role on the bench. His lack of pace – in both legs and brain – leaves him looking like a passenger when Liverpool are dominant on the ball.

 

5) Origi off the bench?
What do you do when you have dragged yourself back from 2-0 to 2-2 thanks to the brilliance of one player and a tactical switch that has moved Lallana to the tip of a diamond behind said player (Firmino) and Daniel Sturridge? Do you a) keep going because a Swansea defence low on confidence will surely crumble? or b) bring on the bumbling Divock Origi in the mistaken belief that more strikers mean more goals?

If you answered b), then congratulations, you are Jurgen Klopp and you are one of European football’s most innovative coaches. But commiserations, you are also going through a spell where your decisions are being questioned for the first time by your fans. And you have just lost 3-2 at home to Swansea after losing your momentum and shape with a poor substitution.

 

Sarah Winterburn