It is April 1, 2023. Liverpool have just suffered a scathing 4-1 defeat by Manchester City and this is not a bad joke that is easily forgotten. The Reds are then eighth in the Premier League, their worst ranking after 29 days since the arrival of Jürgen Klopp in October 2015.
The manager, in fact, is really called into question for the first time since his first steps in England. A section of supporters thinks that he is no longer the man for the job, that his management has failed and that his team is on its knees because of the energy-intensive game that he advocates. “We were no longer there, too passive, too far from everything”he noted at the end of this scathing defeat.
Present for eight and a half years on Merseyside, Jürgen Klopp was lucky not to lose the confidence of his leaders, retaining the privilege of their patience. They were well off since that date, Liverpool have only conceded one defeat in… 30 league matches, and sit at the top of the Premier League after 20 days. The wizard Klopp, who faces Arsenal in the Cup on Sunday (5:30 p.m.), has been able to reinvent himself without changing his philosophy. “We are building Liverpool 2.0”, he revealed on September 19. How did he achieve this?
He kept the confidence of his players
His management method has not really changed: his two important principles, vertical play (flashing forward projection) and counter-pressing (rapid recovery when losing the ball) are still present. His bond with his players is still close, a sign that the upheavals have not altered their confidence in him.
“He is very close to his players, he protects them, he is very emotional. The players did not give up, quite the contrary. There was a questioning of Klopp and the players. Today, Liverpool are first and it’s deserved”details Loïc Rémy, consultant for France Télévisions. This season, a statistic reminds us that “his” Liverpool never gives up: out of the 10 times the Reds were behind, they ultimately pocketed 19 points (5 wins, 4 draws, 1 defeat).
He can still count on a solid defense, the 2nd in the Premier League, consolidated by the return to favor of goalkeeper Alisson and defender Virgil van Dijk. “Defense is the basis of everything and if we do it well, the offensive potential of our players will reveal itself”he revealed after the victory against Newcastle on January 1.
He made the right choices in the transfer window
Under contract until 2026, Jürgen Klopp is a coach who invests a lot in recruitment. Last year, the Reds were often stifled in midfield, blocking their offensive play patterns. In the summer, it was also necessary to compensate for the departure of captains Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. If the names recruited – Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch – were not those of top players, their five months spent at Anfield have already convinced the supporters.
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The Hungarian was the author of a thunderous debut, bringing technical accuracy and forward projection that were sorely lacking. “From the first training, it was quite impressive. It’s easy for him to get into the game, into the team. He’s a boy who naturally has self-confidence, that helps.”Jürgen Klopp said of him on September 28.
His recent poor form coincided with the rise of the Japanese Endo, more defensive but essential to take over the work from Fabinho’s shadow. “What a boy and what a player, he is so important”praised the German technician. The midfielder, so important in the animation of Jürgen Klopp, was a decisive issue for the rebirth of Liverpool. For the moment, the German’s bet is successful. “I’m not necessarily surprised because these are wise choices, but it still shows Klopp’s ability to unearth these raw talents and shape them in his own way.”confirms Loïc Rémy.
He placed his young players in the best conditions
But to make Anfield roar again, Jürgen Klopp also reinvigorated his squad. The young Jarell Quansah (20 years old) shakes up the hierarchy alongside van Dijk, a position that had long been empty before the arrival of Ibrahima Konaté. The two young prospects Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, often confined to playing jokers, are now often starters and decisive.
But the main change is the repositioning of Trent Alexander-Arnold. The young English full-back, whose foot is as silky as his defense is porous, has cost several goals in past years. This season, Klopp put him back in the center of the game in the offensive phase and Liverpool transformed. “In the axis, we see the full extent of his talent. His quality of passing and his forward projection are godsends for counter-attacking players.”develops Loïc Rémy.
“I felt like I could dictate games from the back, but I feel like my game is taking on another dimension”, welcomed the England international at the beginning of January. At 25, he is already the best decisive passer in the history of the Premier League among defenders (57), tied with… Andrew Robertson, the other Liverpool full-back.
He kept faith in his frame
Despite the failed last season (5th, no Champions League), Jürgen Klopp kept his 4-3-3 which worked so well for him. The alterations are there, but the basic men do not change. The technician notably continues to trust Darwin Nunez despite his ineffectiveness (five goals in 19 matches) because he can count on Mohamed Salah, still decisive [co-meilleur buteur du championnat avec 14 réalisations] but whose departure for the CAN could slow down the Reds.
The ability to kill matches and manage a score advantage are the next projects in a season where the fight for the title is still in full swing. “It’s getting better, there’s no doubt about it. I like a lot of the things we’ve done, but it’s not like we’re really thinking about it. It’s so early.”tempered the manager on December 29. “Liverpool clearly have the typical profile and the squad to go all the way. But there are a lot of matches that follow one another. Will they keep up the pace?”asks Loïc Rémy.
If the fight towards a second championship title under his command (after 2020) is still far away, the recovery of the Reds undeniably bears the mark of his manager. “They have a fantastic team and players. They are the strongest team in the world in recent years”dared to recognize his rival Pep Guardiola on November 24. It is also from the Manchester City coach that perhaps the best compliment addressed to this Jürgen Klopp 2.0 comes. “He helped me think about a lot of things. He made me a better coach with his teams.”