From slip-ups to sure bets: How Jurgen Klopp has transformed the club’s fortunes

As the run continues, Liverpool are on the precipice of greatness. Without a doubt, Jurgen Klopp is the reason. Or so says Peter Watton from matched betting specialists OddsMonkey. Here, he looks at the key factors behind the German’s revolution and how they turned the Reds into world beaters.

It’s the date that no Liverpool supporter likes to remember: the 27^th April 2014, the fateful day that Steven Gerrard gave a speech about not letting the title slip, then slipped himself. There was already a sense that the Reds would be eternal runners up, but those agonising seconds against Chelsea seemed to capture the feeling perfectly as Man City secured the title.

Then, in 2015, there was the arrival of a smiling man from Dortmund. After all the talk of “heavy metal football” had died down, there were three years of slow but steady improvements. Then, Klopp’s side made an almost flawless run at the title in the 2018–19 season, only to be pipped by an unbelievable season from Man City. They also won the Champion’s League, of course.

As it turned out, last season’s fantastic form was just a dress rehearsal. Liverpool have blasted their rivals out of the water this year and sit at the top of the table unbeaten. This begs the question, how is Jurgen Klopp succeeding where so many managers failed? Let’s take a look at the key factors that have led to the German perfecting his formula.

Peak pressing perfection

Watch any Klopp-era Dortmund performance or a match from his first seasons at Liverpool and you will see a team with an intimidating high press and fantastic levels of energy but, ultimately, not the best at retaining the ball and with obvious defensive vulnerabilities.

In 2015, many were very quick to speculate that Klopp would put his famous “Gegenpress” style into action at Liverpool, and they weren’t wrong. However, beyond the hype, what most people didn’t see was how he was gently tweaking his trademark tactics to address its weaknesses. Assisted by targeted player acquisitions, Klopp has managed to pull together a perfected press at Liverpool.

Over the past two seasons, the quiet evolution of Klopp’s side has really come to the fore. Now, in difficult periods of matches, the Reds can keep the ball and aren’t exposed defensively half as much. They still benefit from the attacking dominance that comes with Gegenpressing, but it is nicely balanced with other strengths, rather than being imbalanced with weaknesses.

Targeted and decisive transfers

A rather more obvious improvement under Jurgen Klopp has been the club’s transfer policy. Rather than sticking to the “marquee signing” or bargain hunting approaches favoured by some, Liverpool have taken a targeted and decisive stance to addressing the squad’s weaknesses. For instance, they were crying out for a quality central defender, then signed Virgil van Dijk. When they had a series of ineffective left backs, they went out and acquired Andrew Robertson.

The club has also benefitted from a lack of panic buys over the last few years, instead planning their squad building carefully. This was never more evident than when Coutinho left for Barcelona, with a £100 plus million as the fee. Rather than going on a spending spree looking for a replacement, Klopp simply adapted his tactics so that the team doesn’t need a lynch pin playmaker, then spent money on areas that needed more attention.

Marvellous man management

Jurgen Klopp is simply one of the best managers around at helping players reach their potential. He’s turned van Dijk from a very good defender to the best in the world. Jordan Henderson, once passed over by Alex Ferguson because “he runs funny”, is now club captain and the best complete holding midfielder in the Premier League. From Roberto Firminio to Georginio Wijnaldunm, there are plenty of other examples of players reaching their peak at Liverpool. What do they have in common? Klopp.

The German also has an unshakeable faith in the club’s younger players. Just look at the opportunity he has given Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez, both of whom are now England regulars. This season has also seen Klopp putting absolute trust into the U23 team in the domestic cups, giving the first team a much-needed break. This level of backing can only fill a young player with confidence.

A never say die attitude

As a Liverpool fan, you must have heard the phrase “Kloppage time” used by the media by now. This refers to the team’s ability to score late goals that can turn a match on its head. This is the perfect example of the never say die attitude Klopp has instilled in his players, as they are still willing to run through walls after 80 gruelling minutes of doing just that.

You just have to look at the German’s body language on the touchline to see that he wins and loses with the team. Sure, screaming and shouting when a goal goes in is very easy to do, but it’s the little things, like when a player goes to the dugout after scoring rather than soaking in the crowd’s adulation, or the arm around the guy who’s had a bad game, that show Klopp’s connection with the squad. The mentality of the team is rock solid, and that’s reflected in their glorious winning run.

In my opinion, these four factors are the corner stones of Mr. Klopp’s success at Liverpool. If he can keep up this magical effect, this year might just be the finest in the club’s history.