[ad_1]
Jurgen Klopp’s intensity wasn’t limited to the technical area on Monday night.
Indeed, the Liverpool manager fell apart after hearing former Manchester United captain Roy Keane comment that his team had been “sloppy” at times during their 3-1 win over Arsenal.
“Did you say it was careless?” Klopp asked, live on Sky Sports. “I want to hear it. I’m not sure I heard it right and maybe it was talking about another game.
“It can’t be this game. Sorry, it’s an amazing description of this game.”
What followed was an exchange between Klopp and Keane in which the Irishman protested saying that he had actually been quite complimentary of Liverpool in his assessment.
Klopp would later admit that it was all a misunderstanding, while Keane would laugh in the studio.
But the truth is, Klopp was right to warm up.
The German arrived at Anfield in October 2015 with a clear tactical identity. During his time at Liverpool, that style has undergone several evolutions to give Klopp a more robust system, while improvements in the squad have made it easier for the Reds to play differently.
Against Arsenal, Liverpool pressed once again, mixing things up with a combination of high pressure and pressure traps as Arsenal’s central midfielders received the ball.
The consequence of that tactical choice saw Liverpool play with a high line, which in turn allowed large spaces behind.
A study of Arsenal’s first game explains why Klopp wants to do that. The Gunners produced a well-crafted team goal in the 25th minute that went from front to back quickly and cut through Liverpool press on four passes.
What seemed to be forgotten was Arsenal’s attempt to orchestrate the same pattern of play just before that.
This time, the Liverpool press recovered the ball and gave Gini Wijnaldum a good chance.
Why should I register?
Premier League champions Liverpool are ready to fight for a seventh European crown.
The Reds will meet their opponents in the group stage when the draw takes place in October.
Follow the latest news on Melwood and Liverpool preparations in Europe with updates from Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle and the rest of the ECHO team.
You will also receive an additional weekly newsletter with the latest behind the scenes news at Paul’s Melwood.
How do I sign up?
It is free, easy and very fast.
- First, click this link to our newsletter subscription center.
- Once you’re there, put your email address where it says at the top, then click on the Liverpool FC newsletter. There are also others if you want them too.
- When you’ve made your choice, hit the Update Preference button at the bottom.
That’s! Your emails will reach your inbox from then on. It’s that easy.
Just under four years ago, Klopp reached out to Sky to explain why he loves back pressure: “No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good back pressure situation.” he said.
Klopp believes that high pressure will create high-quality opportunities, so he runs the risk of a team like Arsenal playing through them. Your confidence rests on your side to emerge victorious most of the time.
This explains why the Liverpool manager was so happy with the Reds’ effectiveness as an attacking unit, but to understand why he was happy with his team on defense, we have to remember something Johan Cruyff said.
“I have never known how to defend” said the dutch. “And if I have to defend this entire room and someone comes, I won’t be able to do it.
“But if I only have to defend this part (he gestures with his hands a smaller space), and the best player in the world passes, then he will not pass me.
“What I mean is that everything is relative. So what we told (Pep) Guardiola is that he would always operate in compact areas. He would never have to defend too much space.
“When the team plays very close, this means that when the other team receives the ball, they have to control it perfectly because if they let it escape, half a meter, we are working on it.”
Yes, Liverpool gave up opportunities, and they had Alisson to thank for denying Alexandre Lacazette in the second half, but this is where the context of the game is so important.
Liverpool’s xG for the game 2.3 versus 1.4 from Arsenal, and they dominated possession and the number of occasions, so in that sense they were deserved winners.
Also, using the principle outlined by Cruyff, Klopp gave his defenders a tough job on Monday and he knows it. He asked them to cover a large space, and that’s when his quality of defense and goalkeeper shone.
Do you want more reactions to the victory over Arsenal? Listen to the latest Blood Red podcast HERE.
He could easily have pushed the team back, closed the gap behind and been more risk averse, but that would have limited the team’s pressure and stifled the opportunities it wanted to create.
In simple terms; Klopp balanced risk and reward. No performance is flawless, and that’s why it’s important to set realistic goals.
The Reds created several good chances without conceding a series of goals to counterattacks. Mikel Arteta’s plan was well thought out and aimed at stifling Liverpool’s defenses and trapping the team on the counter.
They didn’t score their first goal, but they did manage to effectively break Liverpool and score once, albeit thanks to a mistake by Andrew Robertson.
Ultimately, Klopp took the risk and earned the reward, which is why he was right to disagree with Keane’s assessment.
[ad_2]
