Follow Fergie, Klopp .. & look out for No.1
JURGEN KLOPP is facing one of the toughest decisions of his managerial career – and should take a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s book. With only a Champions League place to fight for Liverpool’s final 14 Premier League games of the campaign take on massive significance. Klopp’s decision on who plays in goal against Tottenham today could prove the most critical call he has to make. The word is he’s set to recall Loris Karius over the more experienced Simon Mignolet, who has made a couple of bad decisions in his last couple of outings. Karius, 23, started the season quite brightly as Liverpool’s No.1 after his move from Mainz. But then the errors crept into his game, his confidence dipped and he looked vulnerable until Klopp decided to reinstate Mignolet. The fact is Klopp JOHN LUKIC is the only goalie to win the title with two clubs - Arsenal and Leeds. Here he delivers his verdict on the battle for the Liverpool keeper’s shirt
brought in Karius for a reason last summer.
He’d worked with Mignolet in his first few months as Anfield boss and decided he wanted to change his goalie.
That’s the point when he should have learned from Ferguson’s approach at Manchester United. After he signed David De Gea from Atletico Madrid the youngster struggled in his debut season. Some people doubted his ability – not Sir Alex.
The United boss made it clear: “De Gea’s our long term keeper. He’s in my team. Now get on with it.”
He’d followed a similar approach when a certain Peter Schmeichel arrived at Old Trafford and, in his early months, had problems with the physicality of the Premier League.
I’m still proud of an appearance record I hold at Leeds. From making my debut as an 18-year-old I stayed in the first team for 146
appearances. There were times I could have been dropped but my managers stood by me.
Klopp seems to be indecisive about his goalies. Arsene Wenger has had a similar problem at Arsenal.
After David Seaman left Jens Lehmann came in but after him nobody was established until they finally recruited Peter Cech.
I hear from inside Anfield that nobody doubts Mignolet’s attitude to work. He’s first in for training and often the last to leave.
But when a keeper is having a bad run he has to turn inwards, look after his own game and cut out the mistakes. When David Luiz’s long range free-kick flew in against Chelsea he failed to remember the most important rule for any goalie – watch the ball. He was too busy trying to sort out other people’s jobs.
Last weekend a Hull, Simon faced with the choice of whether to punch or catch a looping header, chose the wrong option, and didn’t punch to clear the danger and conceded. There hasn’t been a goalie born who has never made a mistake – and don’t I know it.
The huge question for Klopp is who does he turn to for a team that has won just one game in 2017?
He’ll have studied his goalies in training this week and will base his decision on who is mentally the toughest.
In the long run I’d suggest a different solution.
With his experience at international, Champions League and title-winning level the real Anfield solution could be to sign Joe Hart from Manchester City.
Going on loan to Torino has been a wake-up call. Losing his status as City’s first choice has been a kick in the teeth.
If I was Liverpool I’d be checking out Hart’s availability. Then Klopp can keep Karius as the England star’s understudy.