And Klopp defends the inertia of the leadership.
He gave 122 million euros for raw strikers
Liverpool were not prepared for the loss of Mane. We learned that from the reaction of the players and the coach. Many in England didn’t understand why the Senegalese switched one of the season’s original favorites to Premier League on a club from the German league, which the English used to underestimate. That doesn’t stop them from signing Bundesliga players like De Bruyne, Firmino and Havertz.
Without sporting director Edwards, there was no one at Liverpool who could adequately assess Mane’s influence on the structure of the game. And not from the point of view of a coach who failed to refresh different lines and was tired of injuries, but from the point of view of sports management. Klopp was deceived by the presence of Luis Diaz, who entered the game a full year ago.
But Firmino, Jota and especially Salah turned out to be more addicted to working with Mane than the boldest Sadio fans could have imagined. And what was the reaction to the Senegalese’s fundamental decision? They signed Uruguayan Nunez for 80 million euros with floating position. At Benfica, Darwin played on the wing, not just in the centre. At the limit he is not always effective.
And when a player with excellent starting data, but with many failures Premier League didn’t concede many goals in his debut period, although he recalled a similar difficult start from Luis Suarez, the Reds went to the market for a new striker. But Cody Gakpo is an unusual striker. Klopp is trying to rebuild the forward line during a functional crisis.
After the winter, when only Gakpo has signed, they can be added to other transfer window losers. Over time the result could come, because the Dutch and the Uruguayan are not mediocre. Salah will sooner or later begin to understand new teammates, something like that he studied with his teammates at Fiorentina and Roma, and then at Liverpool. But Manet and Firmino were made to work with Mohamed.
Gakpo and Nunes play differently, so it takes not only time, but also a lot of luck. And also the perfect midfield job, because Liverpool’s new forwards are not kings of pressure. Depending on the intensity of frontline defensive actions Premier League Klopp’s team was first by a margin. Now in fifth place.
Liverpool have changed their old buying strategy
Transfer face lost. Talking about the problems of sinking Everton, they pointed out that the neighboring club has spent only slightly less money in recent seasons than Klopp’s victorious Liverpool. The Reds have fared well in the transfer market compared to clubs of the same financial calibre. Picked up a decent composition, although the menu didn’t have a dozen Van Dyke-style buys.
I have played many small bets. A simple but complex strategy: the scouts’ perfect work came in handy. Robertson was matched for “penny”, when compared to the level of football. Wijnaldum came for healthy money, but he became the key, in vain he was underestimated and released PSG. Playing defense was Matip, a free agent. Not all transfers are cheap, but Salah, Mane and Fabinho have repaid their €128m investment.
But over time, the main players’ reserves of strength ran out. Salah cannot give football to the pharaoh every season, to whom the gods have granted eternal goal-scoring energy. Alcantara and Artur have not replaced Wijnaldum. Injuries are on the defensive and Liverpool are afraid to make another bet, although Konate and Matip, without van Dijk, who injured a tendon earlier in the year, are unlikely to give Alisson a quiet life .
The activity of rivals prevents a sharp increase
Previously, Edwards reacted subtly to problems, even Origi was kept in the application for a reason, but now there is a complete refusal to buy. The reason for the calm in Liverpool, when even Klopp does not complain, as he used to, but stands up for the management, lies on the surface. The club is being prepared for sale. I have money in order. He recorded an income of 550 million euros in the last financial year, but at the same time he does not show logic with transfers.
If they gave money for two forwards, why didn’t they strengthen other lines, especially the midfield? Klopp, when asked directly if he felt comfortable in a cool winter with no transfers, replied as follows:
Nothing will happen in this transfer window, absolutely nothing. We are doing well with the current lineup.
Jürgen, is that you? Surely you don’t need a strong midfielder? Surely no one will leave in the summer? By the start of next season, they plan to complete the stadium expansion to 61,000 seats. There will be a full house, people in line. And as Abramovich showed how much a big club can cost Premier Leagueso Liverpool’s American owners expect to receive around €4.5 billion from the sale.
Klopp’s results in the Champions League play-offs also have an impact. Real Madrid’s move will mean the Reds remain at the top of the world and bankruptcy inside Premier League it can be temporary. But as without Diaz, Jota, Arthur and van Dijk, and even after the season, when six first-team players missed the infirmary, achieve sustainable victories?
Only with transfers. Either they didn’t exist or they haven’t been saved yet. At the same time, Chelsea are active, while Newcastle and Brighton are literate. Manchester United don’t miss the arrival of ten hag. The competition is fierce, even Fulham, with tank Mitrovic at the forefront, is a dangerous opponent. You can feed on the stories that Klopp has everything under control in Dortmund, so Bellingham is halfway to Liverpool.
But should we also consider whether Salah himself will want to change clubs next summer? At a certain age, the big names don’t want to lose the season in the Champions League, but such a prospect shines and doesn’t warm up.
