Long-term implications for Reds

joined his staff.

The coaching unit followed Klopp to Dortmund and when Anfield called on the German, his first request was to hire Buvac and Krawietz.

Although in recent years it has been suggested the relationship between Klopp and Buvac was more professional than personal, and based mostly on the training ground, the presence of a figure with a forthright opinion, who was prepared to stand his ground without fear of losing his job, has been healthy, particularly in an industry where high-profile managers surround themselves with acolytes and yes men.

Evidently, the dynamic of the relationship between Klopp and Buvac has changed over the course of recent months, the Bosnian cutting a more withdrawn figure and feeling less involved in tactical briefings.

He still does not speak English, which obviously affects communication with many of the players.

Although Liverpool have ambiguously attributed Buvac’s break from first-team duties to “personal reasons”, there is no doubt those reasons are workrelated.

Liverpool say Buvac remains a club employee. That will be the case until such time the 56-yearold decides he cannot repair his working relationship with Klopp.

That it has reached the point where Buvac will not board the flight to Rome for the second leg of tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final is astonishing, given how hard Klopp and his staff have worked to bring the club to this point. The timing of this setback could not be worse.

But beyond that, on a purely human level, it is also extremely sad. As a matter of habit, possibly superstition, Klopp emerges from the tunnel before every game and offers Buvac a hug. He has generally been the first person Klopp looks to when celebrating a goal.

To say Klopp will be missing his ‘brain’ in the Stadio Olimpico is an overstatement. But his right-hand man will be absent and that is strange enough.

With their side carrying a 5-2 lead into the second leg against Roma, all those on the red half of Merseyside will be hoping there are no short-term consequencs, regardless of what happens down the road. (© Daily Telegraph, London)