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The final whistle had barely sounded on the Amex when Jurgen Klopp took out his violin and began the last performance of his saddest song.
You know how it goes now: TV bosses, changes, treatment tables. Repeat.
You can only imagine, from isolated homes across the country, tears of pity flowing into the corridors of power where, as authorities struggle to control one crisis, another comes to their doorstep.
Surely the Liverpool manager can forgive the sarcasm.
After all, his trip to the south coast ended with a slow applause for the officials (who gave Brighton a late penalty) and a congratulatory message for BT Sport (which apparently caused the hamstring injury to James Milner). Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder received similar treatment.
Klopp’s frustrations are not without merit, of course. Their injured list is long, Liverpool’s schedule is especially tough.
The reintroduction of five subs would be, as Klopp puts it, ‘a little bit of help’, especially now that we enter the festive period.
But sympathy will always be low as long as everyone suffers.
Especially while Klopp’s team remains full of brilliance and while Liverpool are sitting pretty close to the top of the table. Even José Mourinho, against whom the world is always against, has told Klopp to save his breath.
Ahead of a crucial Christmas race, “the most difficult time”, the German must put aside concerns about substitutes and scheduling. That is up to your bigwigs to change.
But in the dugout there are battles you can win to make sure the title defense doesn’t get derailed.
Be ‘braver’ with your submissives
It’s been a common criticism leveled at Klopp on Merseyside: He’s too slow to make changes. That irony will not go unnoticed by his detractors. But his argument in favor of five substitutes is the following: “If you are not brave, you have to wait for the third substitute until minute 90.” Only then, Klopp says, can you be sure that you won’t be stuck with 10 men.
Against Brighton, his team was affected by a late injury from Milner.
However, there is a pattern of caution about Klopp changes.
His decision to hook Neco Williams at halftime is just the second time in the league this season that, injury-forced trades aside, he has made a substitution before the 58th minute.
In two of Liverpool’s 10 league games, he has only scored two. In seven he has waited until the last minutes to complete his quota. Against Brighton, Klopp said he would have replaced Andy Robertson if five substitutes had been an option.
The left-back then gave the late penalty. Perhaps, to avoid further injury and distress, Liverpool should bet more often.
Narrow your focus
For so long, Klopp has embodied the dynamic positivity of this team.
His passion and strength of personality shone in the spirit and intrepid abandon with which he played Liverpool. In Merseyside, followers immediately idolized a manager who understood the city and its people, and whose thoughts on the national conversations invariably coincided with theirs.
His energy on the touchline was contagious too. And yet at Amex, any Liverpool player in need of inspiration would have looked to see Klopp walking away.
He spent virtually the entire 1-1 draw on Saturday on the ear of fourth official Simon Hooper, steam howling in his ears.
If your drive and optimism are transferred to your side, surely this negativity, this feeling of us against the world, will also feed? Suddenly, a boss and team defined by their relentless positivity find themselves caught in a vicious cycle.
Paste instead of twist
In the five league games since Virgil van Dijk’s injury, Klopp has named five different central defender associations.
On Saturday, Fabinho and Nat Phillips paired up for the first time and, for a while, they played like this. Too often one would be pulled out and a large hole was cut between them. In the end, however, Klopp was praising Phillips’ “exceptional” display.
Perhaps now, given Joel Matip’s fragile body, the coach should give this couple a long run.
After all, Liverpool’s success has been built on solid foundations.
This season he has conceded 17 goals in 10 league games. Last season, it took 27 games to send that number. Especially without Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, defenses need consistency to flourish.
At the other extreme, their numbers are more encouraging. But the problems persist.
His midfield could use Thiago Alcantara’s incision and the front line still needs work as well. Roberto Firmino has been the only permanent fixture, despite his struggles in front of goal, while Mohamed Salah was upset about being eliminated against Brighton.
Given Diogo Jota’s superb performances, Klopp must find a way to keep the four of them fit, firing and happy. Not a bad problem.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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