Will Jurgen Klopp Resurrect Liverpool?
By Ty Duffy
Liverpool sacked Brendan Rodgers on Sunday. Five days later, the Reds have hired former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. Part cartoon character and part tactical mastermind, Klopp is a soccer hipster favorite. He was the market’s most intriguing free agent. He is the coach, if reports can be believed,Liverpool have been after for a while.
Klopp built Dortmund into a juggernaut, winning consecutive league titles in 2011 and 2012. His team also reached the Champions League Final in 2013, falling to Bayern Munich. He left the German club last summer, following a disappointing 7th place finish.
What style will Klopp impose at Liverpool? It’s unclear, in the short or even the intermediate term. One presumes it will be some variation of his “heavy metal” pressing game from Dortmund. In essence, Klopp teams pressed very high up in the center of the pitch, with the forward players hunting in a pack. Much like the press in basketball, the system created quick turnovers converted to chances on goal with favorable numbers.
The system works to great effect. The trouble is it wears on players. The squad needs tremendous tactical discipline. It needs young, fit players. It needs quick defenders who can recover if the high defensive line is broken.
On paper, Liverpool could adapt to that system, sort of. The bulk of their first team is under 25. A robust, high-pressing game seems particularly suited for captain Jordan Henderson and summer acquisition from the Bundesliga Roberto Firmino.
The crucial point for Klopp, as it would be anywhere, will be finding and developing players. Even if he can get more production from the current crew, Klopp will have to supplement.
Liverpool’s ambition is the top four. How many Reds players would get into a healthy Arsenal first team? Do they have one? Liverpool haven’t had an elite player since Luis Suarez left.
Klopp built his squad at Dortmund. He brought Nuri Sahin and Mario Goetze through from the club’s academy. He signed Mats Hummels, Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski. The prolific goal scorer was the most expensive of those signings, a paltry $5 million.
However, Klopp also received time and latitude in Germany he won’t get in England. Greater funds means greater competition and greater pressure. With clubs cognizant of the new EPL TV deal, those bargain buys at Dortmund become $20m players. Finishing 6th and 5th his first two seasons at Liverpool may not earn him a third.
Hiring Klopp is not a sure thing. No coach is, in a novel environment. He may turn Liverpool around. What he offers now is change and hope. That’s what Liverpool needs, on and off the pitch, more than anything.