Boss looks for magic wand

– Juergen Klopp (above) returns to the scene of his first game as Liverpool manager at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League today, still searching for an effective winning formula.

Liverpool won 4-3 at Arsenal in their opening league game, but lost 2-0 at promoted Burnley last weekend before bouncing back to beat second-tier Burton Albion 5-0 in the League Cup.

Spurs drew at Everton before edging Crystal Palace last weekend and Klopp believes the two teams have evolved in similar ways since the 0-0 draw on his last trip to White Hart Lane last October.

“Both teams have consistency in the squad. There are of course new players, but not too many changes,” said the German, whose side lost at Burnley despite having over 80% of possession.

“They are still strong, of course. They’ve brought a few very good players in with the basis of their former squad.

“For us, everything could have been better, but it could have been worse. We’re still on the way. My team gave me a lot of really good signs to work with.”

Klopp’s line-up is unlikely to be radically different from the team he selected at Spurs on his Liverpool bow, with Martin Skrtel the only starting player to have left the club in the 10 months since.

Klopp did his best to douse any controversy on Thursday, asserting that he did not want Sturridge taking up a “fixed position” on the flank and saying that there was “absolutely no problem”.

Meanwhile, Sadio Mane is fit after missing the trip to Burnley with a shoulder problem.

Another England international striker adapting to a slightly different position is Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

The 23-year-old played in a withdrawn role behind new Dutch striker Vincent Janssen in last weekend’s 1-0 win at home to Palace and set up the only goal with a flick-on for Victor Wanyama.

Kane’s next goal will be his 50th in the Premier League and in Liverpool he faces a team who have kept only two clean sheets in 13 league games.

He is yet to score, but took seven games to get off the mark last term and ended the campaign with the Golden Boot. – AFP

For us, everything could have been better, but it could have been worse. Juergen Klopp Liverpool manager