In a summer which saw Liverpool sign the most expensive African footballer in the history of the game, Sadio Mane, the Reds are finally showing they mean business. Jurgen Klopp brought in a host of new players such as Ragnar Klavan, Loris Karius, Joel Matip and Georginio Wijnaldum. And while many expected Liverpool to make more changes, the manager decided to stick with the base from last season.
Speaking to the official website of the club, Jurgen Klopp highlighted the idea behind the transfer decisions this season.
“The big difference between us and all the rest of the Liverpool world was probably that everybody thought we should change a lot from last year’s team.”
The German further stated that he trusted the players from last season and wanted to build up from that core of players.
“We thought ‘No’. Yes, we changed a few things but most of the players who performed most of the time last year are still here. We wanted to build on this base. We brought a few new things in, a few new skills, but it’s all about the base which we already had.”
That certainly has been true for Liverpool this season as the likes of Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson and Dejan Lovren have been playing exceptionally well. Even players such as James Milner have done exceedingly well, despite being played out of position.
New signings really making a mark for the Reds
While Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana have been thriving in “new roles” at the club, credit must be given to the new players who are donning the Red shirt. Sadio Mane’s £34 million price tag seems like a bargain at the moment as the Senegalese has tormented defences throughout the season.
Even the much vilified Georginio Wijnaldum has been doing the dirty work in midfield and seems to be thriving under Klopp’s playing style. The biggest issue over the past three-four seasons for Liverpool has been their defence and that too has looked steady with Joel Matip forming a great partnership with Dejan Lovren.
Matip was signed on a free transfer from Schalke and the 25-year-old looks quality and is certainly one of the smartest buys this season from any manager. Loris Karius, another signing from Germany, is set to become Liverpool’s number one goalkeeper and that should ease a lot of worries that Liverpool fans have over the performance and ability of a certain Simon Mignolet.
We haven’t even gotten into other players such as Marko Grujic and Ragnar Klavan, who both look ready to put in a shift when it is needed from the side.
Klopp sticks to his guns
As stated by the manager, it was all about the base they had. The back four only has Joel Matip as a new comer into the side and the midfield also has only Georginio Wijnaldum taking up a starting berth. The same can be said about Mane, as the former Southampton star has effectively become Liverpool’s main weapon.
This is the same Liverpool side from last season but a few tweaks in the playing staff here and there. The manager seems to have faith in a number of players and it is showing now. With only the Premier League and the domestic cups to look forward to this season, the Reds are in line for a great season and will hope they end it with a trophy in the cabinet.
