Jurgen Klopp needs to adapt more to teams now that a weakness has been found

Jurgen Klopp needs to adapt more to teams now that a weakness has been found
Liverpool won the Premier League after 30 years in 2020 and now is the time to suit up and ensure a double this season (Photo courtesy: Andrew Powell/Getty Images)

Liverpool have dropped 8 points against teams that are below 13th place in the Premier League table and that is a worrying matter. These are matches that Liverpool should have wrapped up and won instead of struggling against struggling teams. Those 8 points dropped will be the difference between Liverpool or any other team winning the Premier League title this season.

Midfield needs to take more responsibility and create chances

These 8 points dropped have come against teams that are currently struggling in the Premier League.  Newcastle United, Brighton, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion all played too defensively and never gave Liverpool a chance to counter-attack. Liverpool thrives on counterattacking but how will you counterattack when there is no opponent player forward? How will you counterattack against a team that sits back and defends?

Jurgen Klopp actually did a wonderful job against Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 of last season’s Champions League. That match he used Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in the midfield three and made him and Mohamed Salah target Renan Lodi in the left. This worked out well and both their goals came from the left side. Their relentless targeting meant that Koke and Saul Niguez dropped towards the left to protect Renan Lodi and Liverpool exploited the space in the centre.

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If it had been Alisson Becker in as goalkeeper in that fateful match, Liverpool would have progressed to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and could’ve potentially challenged the powerful Bayern Munich later. It was their bad luck that they crashed out of the knockout rounds early due to individual errors.

Klopp now has to do the same as lower ranked teams are starting to defend in numbers. He must use players like Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and more likely Thiago Alcantara to overcome these opponents. Liverpool cannot afford to drop anymore points now as Manchester United is breathing down their necks now. They are three points behind in second and could draw level today if they defeat Aston Villa. On 17th January Liverpool and Manchester United play for the first time as title challengers and it could very well be an early decider for the title winners.

It is in Jurgen Klopp’s hands how he wants to go forward with his team that is brimming with talent that other teams are envious of.

Also read: Thiago Alcantara lights up Liverpool’s midfield in cameo role and gives hopes and expectations for next year