NEVER SAY DIE
Motivational talks from a triathlete, a surfer and neuroscientists boost Liverpool’s mentality monsters
WINNING football matches in the last knockings is not by design, but Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have made a habit of it — and that is no fluke. Darwin Nunez’s 99th-minute header at Nottingham Forest caused a storm of controversy at the City Ground and, while the home team had a right to be frustrated, it was another example of Liverpool fighting until the last second to win.
It was the 18th time in the Klopp era that the Reds had won a match in second-half stoppage time, more than any other team in that period. If one theme sums up this title tilt, it is the hunger, belief and fighting spirit to never give up.
After a win in the leafy Austrian city of Linz on the banks of the Danube in September, Klopp was asked if the ‘Mentality Monsters’ had returned. That’s the title he once used to describe an older iteration of his team. He laughed and declined.
Sorry, Jurgen, you were wrong. This team are Mentality Monsters. Whether it’s that nickname or the ‘Liverpool 2.0’ many use, the Merseyside club have demonstrated psychology is a central aspect underpinning the fight for four trophies.
The performance at Forest was far from their top levels but, in terms of the context of the win, with an injury crisis and the timing of the goal, it was the biggest of the campaign.
‘With our squad situation it’s super tough,’ Klopp said. ‘Four games in 11 days. How the boys have fought through that is really special. We knew we wouldn’t come here and play them out the stadium. We knew we had to fight through and the boys did that.
‘If you asked d me 12 days ago o if we could win all four, I would have said no. But my boys made it happen. It’s up there (for the e biggest win of the season) — today was Aston ston Villa-like.’
That refers too the win on the way to Liverpool’s firstever Premier League title in 2019-20 when the Reds were 1-0 down at Villa Park until two late goals, in the 87th and 94th minutes, turned the game on its head. ‘Rescue mission,’ read the headline in Mail Sport. As for big wins this term, only a 2-1 victory at Newcastle in August runs it close for the drama, when 10-man Liverpool were inspired by super- sub Nunez with two late goals. Sound familiar? That felt a case of Newcastle crumbling, this was down to Liverpool’s class. After a forforgettable season sonseason last year in which the RedsR finished fifthfifth, Klopp and hihis staff put ememphasis on ppsychology and re-fostering a winning mentality. That team, wwho dropped ppoints in 19 of 338 matches, wawas not too dissimilar simdissimilar from the side thatt picked up 92 poinpoints the season beforebefore. KKlopp would have conceded that, above all, they were probably burned out and mentally bruised from fighting — and often losing to — Manchester City.
And so to help stop yet another blue moon rising over Manchester, the Liverpool boss entrusted the help of several blue- sky thinkers. One guest was Jan Frodeno, the German triathlete who has won an Olympic gold medal and three Ironman world championships.
Frodeno, a friend of Klopp’s, came into a pre-season camp in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany to give a talk on psychological resilience, fighting through mental barriers when fatigue is present, plus hunger to stay at the elite level of sport for multiple years.
Liverpool also invited Kevin Roberts, former CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, to talk to coaches about fostering a winning culture around the training base. Roberts has also lectured England’s cricket and rugby teams. Surfing champion Sebastian Steudtner has previously given lectures on dealing with stress in uncomfortable situations, like being 1-0 down… or riding an 85ft wave? Last month, Klopp also entrusted a group of neuroscientists, Neuro11, for sessions on remaining calm during games.
The sub- contracted motivational speakers have no doubt been important but take nothing away from Klopp and his assistants Pep Lijnders and Peter Krawietz, who dubbed this season ‘The Last Dance’, in which they would give their all for glory.
Unplanned exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho caused a bit of a panic in the transfer department, plus the departures of well-liked figures Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but it gave the squad a muchneeded fresher look.
Virgil van Dijk has stepped up as the ultimate skipper, while vice-captain Trent AlexanderArnold has been a key rolemodel for younger stars. Five of Liverpool’s squad are the captains of their national team, also including Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai.
A gruelling pre- season included three sessions a day, a programme led by fitness guru Andreas Kornmayer to ensure tip- top conditioning, but downtime was also written into the timetable, with players encouraged to relax together.
That gavetime for the likes of Robertson and ibrahima Konate, described as a ‘class clown who everyone loves’, to create a summer games series during time off. many tasks included trivial things like ‘take a selfie with mo (Salah)’ but it helped foster a friendly and laid-back culture.
Whether it be the multitude of psychology- led sessions, Klopp’s motivational teamt talks or just an innate winning DNA, Liverpool certainly found an extra gear from somewhere
in the 99th minute at Forest. nunez’s goal might not be the best, but it could be the biggest of the season.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Sels 7; Williams 6, Murillo 7.5, Omobamidele 7, Toffolo 7; Dominguez 6.5 (Danilo 7 min), Yates 6.5; Origi 6 (Awoniyi 65, 6.5), Gibbs-White 6, Hudson-Odoi 6.5; Elanga 7. Booked: Gibbs-White, Danilo, Felipe. Sent off: Reid (coach).
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 7. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Kelleher 7; Bradley 6 (Tsimikas 84), Konate 7.5, Van Dijk 7.5, Robertson 7 (Nunez 60, 7.5);
MAC ALLISTER 8, Gomez 6.5, Clark 7 (Endo 60, 7); Elliott 6.5 (Szoboszlai 76), Gakpo 6 (Danns 84), Diaz 7.
Scorer: Nunez 0+ .
Booked: Robertson, Danns.
Manager: Jurgen Klopp 8.
Referee: Paul Tierney 5.
Attendance: 2 ,603.