2 wins in 12 games in 2017. If this was Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce or even Arsene Wenger we were talking about, the papers would be asking for their heads. Jurgen Klopp who famously said in November 2016 “we’re still in the title race”.
Fast forward less than 3 months, and Liverpool are now looking at the prospect of being outside the top 4, below Manchester United by 3pm this Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp was brought in to change Merseysides fortunes and bring a title to Liverpool with entertaining and exciting football. There is no doubt Liverpool play some superb exciting, pulsating football but it comes at a price.
However, there is no shock in this. Borussia Dortmund went through the same phases with Jurgen Klopp. They could pull off a entertaining 5-2 victory at the most difficult of times but would quite often slump to a 3-1 Leicester-type drubbing of Monday night.
But why?
There is only one simple answer for this, Jurgen Klopp. Klopp is too stubborn to change his ways and refuses to learn how to win. His main goal is entertainment and sometimes that is not enough. Many managers get lamented for going to stadiums for draws or boring 1-0s but they are the managers that win you trophies and titles. Jurgen Klopp does not have that mentality within him.
Its an embarrassing situation for Liverpool. Of the top 6 teams, Liverpool are the only team playing the fewest matches. With only 13 matches left of their 2017 campaign, you would have thought Liverpool could muster wins in all of them especially with weekly breaks. That would put them in a brilliant position for challenging the top 2 never mind the top 4.
Where do they go now?
Well, we have seen Liverpool play some great football but ultimately it is results that count. At the moment, they are not getting the results. They are far behind and could be lagging even further by the weekend where the tie against Arsenal is now a must-win game.
Jurgen Klopp’s short Liverpool career is already hanging by a thread. There are already many managerial questions being asked. But, what about the players? Why would Coutinho stay at a no-so-close top 4 club if the rumours to Barcelona are true? Lallana may also be poached from the La Liga elites.
Emre Can is still developing but without a recognised centre back pairing, established goalkeeper and a genuine goalscorer (like Vardy?), Liverpool look like an average team.
We know Klopp likes his teams to play high intensity football but it is already looking like taking its toll on Liverpool players. They may be able to produce performances like that for half the season but what happens the other half of the season?
Is there enough match winners in that side? Is there enough tactical genius in Klopp to be able to manage games to victory? Or, is he just a one trick pony?
Many lamented Claudio Ranieri’s sacking last weekend. Klopp is running next in line, deservedly so too. He’s running out of time.
Nubaid Haroon – Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi
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