Liverpool FC Transfer Rumors: Jürgen Klopp Aiming For World Class Talents?
“We go again” has become an infamous saying attributed to Liverpool after former captain Steven Gerrard uttered the phrase before his ill-fated slip that cost the Reds their first Premier League title. The phrase has never seemed more relevant since the appointment of Jürgen Klopp. The doom and gloom once surrounding Liverpool has been lifted and the result against Tottenham may not have set the pulse racing, but the performance was more than encouraging.
According to Liverpoolfc.tv, Klopp told reporters that, “It was good. It’s not important to talk too much about me, but of course it was my first match as a manager in the Premier League, coming with Liverpool to White Hart Lane, and we enjoyed it.”
“We’re not here to enjoy it and once the whistle went at the start, we were in the game – but before, I tried to look at the things I’ve never seen before. Now we are in and working.”
Despite a challenging injury crisis, which has seen players such as Joe Gomez and Danny Ings out for the remainder of the season. Liverpool traveled to Tottenham without first team players such as Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Dejan Lovren, Roberto Firmino, and Christian Benteke. Jürgen Klopp could be tempted to raid the market for players suitable for his style of football. Liverpool have already been linked to players such as Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels.
However unlikely those targets may be, it has been rumored that Jürgen Klopp will be given the resources to sign world class players in both the January and Summary transfer window. The Daily Mirror has linked Liverpool to Juventus and Italian central midfielder Claudio Marchisio, while the Metro claims that Liverpool have beaten Chelsea to the signing of Rubin Neves.
Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool has already cast his dye on the squad. Liverpool’s pressing was noticeable against Tottenham having outrun their opponents, a team also noted for its pressing style. The approach is not an entirely foreign concept to Liverpool, but after a season of chopping and changing under Brendan Rodgers, the squad is clearly not used to famous gegenpressing.
1 – Liverpool made 50 more sprints than Spurs (614 v 564) & were the 1st team to run further in a PL game than Spurs this season. Gegenpress
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 17, 2015
“Divock, Phil [Coutinho] and Adam [Lallana] worked perfectly in the three, good positions for them. They did well. The problem was that when we had the ball, we were not cool enough and we didn’t use our skills. We were a little bit too hectic. We didn’t see the right option, but it’s normal.”
Klopp should be pleased that he will not have delved too deep into the January transfer market should the Liverpool squad avoid more injuries. Players such as Can, Sakho, Lucas, and Moreno took to Jürgen Klopp’s fast pressing style like a duck to water. A switch from 5-3-2 to 4-2-3-1 was seemingly smooth for a good proportion of the game. Liverpool also managed to keep a clean sheet, their first since their last trip to North London against Arsenal earlier this season.
13 – Simon Mignolet has kept more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League in 2015. Rock.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 17, 2015
Jürgen Klopp has also made changes to rules off the field as well. Klopp has instituted a ban on wives and girlfriends at Melwood, Liverpool’s famous training ground. The German manager has also put forth a plan to include more training sessions, according to the Telegraph‘s Chris Bascombe. Players will no longer automatically get back to back days off.
Will Jürgen Klopp succeed at Liverpool?
[Photo by Bryn Lennon /Getty Images]
