KLOPP LEFT FLAT ON HIS DEBUT

Mignolet def ies Kane at the Lane in f ighting start to the new Liverpool era

THERE was pace, fury and intensity in abundance. There was a definitive shift in Liverpool’s tactical approach and there was a discernible optimism among the travelling supporters with their German flags.

What there was not was a goal, which may be no bad thing for a Liverpool side still struggling to hold its own defensively. But it was not quite how the arrival of the Messianic coach from Mainz and Dortmund had been billed.

Something a little more dramatic was required; a stunning counterattacking goal or some football played with a flourish.

What we got was a game of enormous commitment on the part of both sides, which Tottenham were unfortunate not to win, and some hints of a Liverpool renaissance.

There was at least the post-match press conference, which was less of an anti-climax. Jurgen Klopp continued to inhabit his persona of Germanic-Californian technology start-up innovator.

White Hart Lane and English football was ‘cool’ and he said of Divock Origi: ‘We will have fun with this player, for sure,’ which is a thought which doesn’t obviously occur to you when watching the Belgian. In the flesh, Klopp did not disappoint. On the pitch, there is plenty to do. His teams are past masters at pressing and bringing energy to the game. The thing is, so are Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs.

Yesterday, the pair contrived to produce something akin to a festival of tracking back, closing down and chasing the ball with über-zealous determination. The Premier League has always revelled in its pace and intensity and Klopp once compared his footballing style to heavy metal. This was football turned up to 11.

There was an awful lot of ‘donner and blitzen’, as they might say in Dortmund, but not much else.

‘The start was brilliant,’ said Klopp. ‘I think we surprised them a little bit. Overall, I’m satisfied, which is not the worst sign as I didn’t have the biggest expectations for the game as we only had three days and Tottenham is a very, very strong team. The problem of the game was that we were not cool enough, we didn’t use our skills. We were a little bit too hectic — nervous, something like this. But it’s normal.’

Indeed, end product has not featured in the training schedule as yet, which is understandable given that he has lost Danny Ings to a longterm injury, Christian Benteke is out and Daniel Sturridge failed a fitness test on his swollen knee, though Klopp reported it was not serious and that he might play in the Europa League game on Thursday. ‘When I thought about Liverpool, I thought: “Four strikers of this quality. Cool”. Now, I have one. That’s not the best situation,’ he said.

Liverpool did start at breakneck pace. The sight of Emre Can, straining, veins pumping, to sprint to retrieve a throw-in was as impressive as it was unexpected. Signs of the Klopp mantra were evident everywhere in the pace and aggression of their play, James Milner receiving a booking which might have turned into a secondhalf dismissal when he bundled into Danny Rose.

Liverpool almost had an early lead when Milner’s corner was met by Can, whose header was flicked by Origi on to a post. Hugo Lloris’s quick reactions, scooping the ball away, before Harry Kane thumped it clear, saved Spurs.

Sustainability, though, is another thing. As the half progressed, Liverpool lagged and Tottenham — one of the fittest sides in the League — took control. Kane, excellent at holding up the ball and distributing it, fed early substitute Clinton N’Jie, who fired a superb strike with the outside of his foot. Simon Mignolet turned it away with a spectacular dive.

A Martin Skrtel mistake then let in Kane, forcing another save from Mignolet. The ball fell invitingly for Dele Alli and his firm strike was blocked by Mamadou Sakho. In the 40th minute, Skrtel and Nathaniel Clyne had a mix-up which allowed N’Jie another strike, which this time went just over the bar.

‘We should have won,’ said Pochettino. ‘We had four chances and Mignolet saved Liverpool. But I’m pleased with the effort.’

Throughout, if any side had the guile to win, it would be Spurs. And the moment appeared five minutes from time when a counter-attack saw Kane shoot from the edge of the box, only to see Mignolet complete an excellent day with a fine save.

For Klopp, it will be marked down as a reasonable start, no more. The triumphant return to former glories will have to wait.