Jurgen Klopp Makes Small but Telling Changes in Debut Liverpool Game vs. Spurs

Jurgen Klopp's first game in charge of Liverpool ended in stalemate at White Hart Lane, as Liverpool held in-form Tottenham Hotspur to a goalless draw.

While the hype and media attention afforded to Klopp in the preceding fortnight might lead you to think this was a disappointing start to the German's reign, that would be misguided.

Going into this game, Tottenham hadn't lost since the opening day of the season—that being against Manchester United at Old Trafford via an own goal.

Liverpool, on the other hand, had won one of their last six Premier League games and were without no fewer than eight first-team players because of injury.

Deciding not to risk Daniel Sturridge after the striker picked up a knock on his knee in training, Klopp was forced to hand 20-year-old Divock Origi his Premier League debut.

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Pre-match, this had all the makings for Klopp to have a difficult introduction to English football: missing four forwards—Christian Benteke, Danny Ings, Roberto Firmino and Sturridge—and captain Jordan Henderson and playing a Spurs side that thrashed Manchester City 4-1 in their previous home game.

As it turned out, Liverpool started the better of the two sides, immediately showcasing Klopp's trademark pressing game. "We were very good in the first twenty minutes, very aggressive," said Klopp post-match, per the Independent. "We were pressing and counter pressing but Tottenham are a good team. They came back into the match."

Changes

Klopp changed Liverpool's formation from the most recently used 3-4-1-2 under Brendan Rodgers to his trademark 4-2-3-1.

It meant a first start of the season as a left-back for Alberto Moreno, while Mamadou Sakho and Martin Skrtel lined up as the two centre-backs for the first time since the 6-1 defeat at Stoke City at the end of last season.

It was Sakho who shone, which wouldn't have come as a surprise to most Liverpool supporters. The Frenchman is clearly the Reds' best defender, and Rodgers' continual overlooking of him was the source of much frustration. Finally, we can expect to see Liverpool's best players played in their best positions.

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Sakho will become a leader in Klopp's Liverpool side, a player capable of positive passing from defence who can lead the team from the back. Skrtel, meanwhile, should be worrying about his future under the German.

Moreno has always shown huge potential but has also looked like a player who needs help by being coached to defend properly. He'll benefit from Klopp's appointment and also by having Sakho, rather than Dejan Lovren, alongside him.

On the other side of defence, Nathaniel Clyne looks far happier as a regular full-back than at wing-back.

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Another major change was deploying James Milner on the right side of the three behind the forward. It's a role he played frequently at Manchester City, but the Guardian reported Rodgers guaranteed the Englishman a central role when signing in the summer. With Rodgers gone, Klopp showed his mettle by immediately moving Milner wide—where many believe he is more effective.

As noted by Sky Sports, "Milner played narrow when Liverpool did not have the ball but was asked to drive wide when they countered. He covered 13.1km and made 82 sprints—both more than anyone else on the pitch."

Attitude

There are no longer any guarantees for Liverpool players and, crucially, no political favouritism from the manager over players he has signed over players signed, or at least identified, by the transfer committee.

Take Klopp's attitude to playing Origi as a perfect example of this. "He is a very good player," said Klopp post-match, per the Press Association (h/t Daily Mail). "Fast and a good technician, at this moment not full of experience in the game because he didn't play so often but we will have fun with this player, I'm sure."

Refreshing to say the least. Liverpool supporters have grown tired of Rodgers bemoaning the unavailability of players after every point dropped.

The Northern Irishman had even resorted to lauding full-back Jon Flanagan numerous times in the last year, pointing to his long-term injury as an excuse for Liverpool's form.

"I don't think about players I don't have—it doesn't make sense," said Klopp.

That means we shouldn't be hearing Klopp bemoan the absence of Ings or Joe Gomez if Liverpool lose a game next March.

It's all part of the new approach and attitude Klopp is quickly looking to implement at Anfield. Players have been given fewer days off and told to keep their families away from Melwood, the club's training ground, with Klopp saying: "We need to train for as often and for as long as it is possible," per the Telegraph's Chris Bascombe.

Future

Because of the pressing game adopted, Liverpool became the first team to outrun Mauricio Pochettino's side this season and covered more ground than in any of their previous outings this term, per Sky Sports.

Of course, Klopp hasn't been able to build fitness levels to ensure such pressing for a full 90 minutes yet, and it might well be that we must wait until next season to see such a game in full effect, once a pre-season can be overseen.

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But the early signs are very promising, and Liverpool's players have clearly already bought into the new manager's ideas—a key element for any football coach.

Klopp's first game at home is against Rubin Kazan on Thursday, a match Sturridge could be available for and one Liverpool need a win in because they drew their two opening Europa League matches.

It will be interesting to see if Klopp takes the opportunity to play his full-strength XI, therefore aligning them further with his methods, or if he instead opts to play a rotated team with an eye on his first home league game against Southampton three days later.

A first clean sheet in nine games is the take-home statistic from Klopp's first game, but it's the change in approach and team shape that will prove the most telling in the long term.