Klopp hoping Liverpool can show wild side
ONE of Jurgen Klopp’s qualities i s his ability to tell it how it is. Liverpool’s new manager sees what the fans see.
English football has earned a rest from the relentless chatter about clubs being in transition, the philosophy of their latest manager, or how they set up teams with a defensive block.
Instead, Klopp’s eyes light up at the very mention of White Hart Lane, a traditional stadium that captured his imagination when he looked at the fixture list for the first time.
He also knew, just as the 2,950 travelling Liverpool fans knew, that Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho can play much better than they did here.
‘ We don’t have to sprinkle magic dust on them and say “now you can play football”,’ admitted Klopp after his debut as boss.
‘They know how to play. We just have to create a situation where it is possible to do this. It is not the biggest pressure — these guys are running for their lives.
‘I’m not sure how many times you saw Lallana like this? What do you think? I know him from Southampton and he can do 20-30 per cent more.
‘Coutinho? Do you not think he can play better football? Of course he can. Lucas? You don’t think he can play balls on the right or left-hand side? Of course he can.
‘ Can? Learning between running and passing. He can l earn. Milner? The complete player, the perfect professional, a machine, everything is there.
‘We have to help them to show i t. This i s not the biggest problem in life.’
In terms of quality, Liverpool are a long way short of the team that walloped Spurs 5-0 in this fixture under Brendan Rodgers in 2013. To return Liverpool to the top of English football, it will require all of Klopp’s boundless energy and the resources he once used to such jaw-dropping effect with Borussia Dortmund.
Klopp won two Bundesliga titles and reached the 2013 Champions League Final after Dortmund had overcome Real Madrid in the semi-final.
To come close to repeating those feats with Liverpool will take something special. Klopp is prepared for the challenge.
‘I’m not the voodoo of football who can decide which league is better — it was intensive football.
‘There are good players here. We tried to disturb at the right moment, but the timing was not perfect. Of course we can play better. When we have the ball the other team has to run — I saw things like this 1,000 times.
‘We will start with development and the most important thing is for the players to be a little bit wild. You can run and miss, no problem. Come back again. This part I am satisfied with, but we can do better and will do better’
Kl op p handled Daniel Sturridge’s latest injury well, explaining that his long-term vision for the player out-weighed the short-term temptation to play the forward here.
Without their go-to man up front they lacked penetration, struggling to create chances against a Spurs side that has not lost in the league since the opening day.
To play at this tempo, to chase after every ball and close the opposition down at the speed Klopp demands will test the fittest players in this squad.
Milner is one of them. He said: ‘Klopp is how he seems — it is not an act. He is a good guy, loves football and wants us to enjoy it — but he asks for 100 per cent.’
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino was pleased with what he saw from his side, saying: ‘The game showed that we have grown up. After beating Manchester City, we have shown that we are a difficult team to play.
‘Jurgen Klopp will need time to work, but it was an exciting game because the players were highlymotivated for their new manager.’ TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Alli, Dembele; Lamela (Townsend 87), Eriksen, Chadli (N’Jie 11); Kane. Subs not used: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Winks, Davies. Booked: Lamela. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno; Milner, Lucas, Can; Lallana (Allen 80), Coutinho (Ibe 86); Origi. Booked: Milner, Lucas. Subs not used: Toure, Bogdan, Sinclair, J Teixeira, Randall. Referee: Craig Pawson. Attendance: 35,926.