Ranking Liverpool's Top 5 Players for October
October was a truly significant month for Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers receiving his marching orders four days in after a 1-1 draw with Everton and Jurgen Klopp appointed as his successor four days later.
It was the month owner Fenway Sports Group acted on the side's miserable form.
Since then, Klopp has led his side into a remarkable five games in 14 days, recording draws with Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton in the Premier League and another stalemate at home to Rubin Kazan in the UEFA Europa League before securing wins against Bournemouth in the League Cup and a sensational 3-1 victory away to Chelsea at the end of the month.
That result even saw one reporter ask Klopp whether he was preparing the Reds for a title tilt this campaign, to which the German responded, as reported by BBC Sport, "Are you crazy? You think after one win at Chelsea we should think about this?"
In this retort, Klopp encapsulated the club's progress over the month of October; Liverpool have steadily improved but have little to show for it in terms of results.
Instead, most importantly, Klopp will be pleased with the immense improvement in the performances of a number of his players, with the 48-year-old already proving his ability to polish the ordinary into the exceptional—with five players in particular standing out in October.
Here are Liverpool's top five players for October, ranked subjectively based on form and overall quality, with a long-suffering stalwart taking up the top spot.
Honourable Mentions
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Such is the level of progress shown under Klopp in October, there are several players who typically would have warranted selection in this top five based on their performances but will have to settle for a place in our honourable mentions.
Nathaniel Clyne netted his first goal in a Liverpool shirt in the 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth, and his consistent performances at right-back have provided Klopp with an invaluable option in defence and attack.
Similarly, Emre Can's role under his compatriot has maximised his quality, with the 21-year-old operating as a box-to-box midfielder in Klopp's regular 4-3-2-1 formation and scoring his first goal of the season against Rubin Kazan—most notably, his work in applying pressure high up the pitch has seen him slot in perfectly.
Returning from injury toward the end of the month, Christian Benteke went some way toward justifying his £32.5 million price tag, scoring against both Southampton and Chelsea, as well as coming close to supplying the winner as a late substitute in the draw with Rubin.
Finally, three players deserve recognition for their dominant performances across one or two games, with Danny Ings, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho producing positive displays against Everton, Bournemouth and Chelsea, respectively.
Klopp will be hoping to see more of the same from the Brazilian duo, while Ings' season-ending ACL injury will be the source of much frustration.
5. Simon Mignolet
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Simon Mignolet certainly has his limitations, and that was abundantly clear in the Reds' 0-0 draw with Spurs. The Belgian completed just 33.3 per cent of his attempted passes, slicing clearances into the White Hart Lane stands and gifting Spurs possession when Liverpool were looking to build.
But overriding this veneer of poor judgement and technical ineptitude is a goalkeeper with phenomenal shot-stopping ability, and he proved this with top-level performances between the sticks against both Southampton and Everton, with This is Anfield's Ben Twelves awarding Mignolet his Man of the Match award for his Merseyside derby heroics.
After a shaky showing in possession against Spurs, Klopp looks to have tailored Mignolet's game with a limited goalkeeping brief—by keeping it simple, the 27-year-old is growing in the No. 1 role. Against Chelsea, for example, Mignolet registered a passing accuracy of 66.7 per cent.
A notoriously reserved figure, restoring Mignolet's confidence in the 18-yard box is one of the key challenges in Klopp's first few months as Liverpool manager.
On October's evidence, he is more than capable of doing so.
4. Adam Lallana
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"One player may just be feeling a little threatened by the arrival of Klopp, and that man’s name is [Adam] Lallana," Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe proffered following Klopp's appointment.
Tighe continued: "Doubts are already swirling over whether he can thrive in a Klopp system, and those doubts are founded due to legitimate compatibility issues between player and system on the surface."
Could Lallana, a midfielder who has struggled for stamina throughout his Premier League career, adapt to the hugely demanding, high-intensity system for which Klopp became renowned as manager of Borussia Dortmund? Tighe's concerns were well placed.
Remarkably, Lallana shone in an attacking-midfield role throughout October.
While stand-in captain James Milner has struggled to adapt to the systematic changes implemented by Klopp, seemingly not registering the nuances of his gegenpressing blueprint, Lallana has showcased an intelligent brand of off-ball pressure, closing down angles and restricting space when opponents are in possession.
His tenacity and tactical intelligence have made him Klopp's best option in terms of defending from the front at this stage, and pairing this with his quick feet, close control and dribbling ability, he represents an invaluable option in attack.
Lallana failed to register a goal or an assist throughout October but was central to Liverpool's success in the forward line.
3. Mamadou Sakho
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Mamadou Sakho is relishing life under Klopp.
"It’s a new mentality, new tactical play. Everything is different, which is good for us. We have to adapt," he told Sky Sports' Soccer AM in October (via This is Anfield). "He’s very close to the players, if he wants something of a player, he tells him one-to-one, which I think is very good for the player’s confidence."
Though a top-level defender such as Sakho hardly requires a confidence boost to reach a sustained level of form—the Frenchman has long been Liverpool's best centre-back—Klopp's intervention has seen a clear improvement.
Producing a colossal performance against Spurs, Sakho married defensive strength with progressive play in possession, thwarting Mauricio Pochettino's long-ball approach by taking the ball down on his chest with astonishing regularity, moving into midfield to prompt attacking moves.
He was central to Liverpool's first clean sheet of the month, and this continued throughout October—Sakho was a contender for Man of the Match against both Rubin and Chelsea.
Captain without the armband, Sakho is an exceptional defender whom Klopp must build around.
2. Alberto Moreno
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Like Sakho, Alberto Moreno is another player who was undervalued by Rodgers, and the Spaniard has seen his stock rise dramatically since Klopp's arrival on Merseyside.
"I don’t know why I've improved to tell you the truth; it is hard to explain," Moreno told the Guardian's Andy Hunter toward the end of October. He continued:
"I just get the impression [from Klopp] that he really feels the game. He has a huge passion for the game, which I think I do. He wants you to express yourself on the field. He wants you to offer not 100 per cent but 200 percent when you are performing and I think I offer that. It fits in with me.
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Moreno has found his feet early on under Klopp, and a host of aggressive, front-footed performances as the German's rampaging, attack-minded left-back have ensured he receives special recognition here.
His sensational last-ditch challenge on Sadio Mane in the 1-1 draw with Southampton drew plaudits from a rapturous Anfield support, and it is this full-throttle approach that underpins Moreno's game—and likely endears him to Klopp.
A key creative outlet on the left flank, Moreno's crossing ability has provided Liverpool with an invaluable option in attack. At just 23, Moreno has considerable room for improvement under his new boss.
1. Lucas Leiva
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Few have captured the spirit of rejuvenation under Klopp better than Lucas Leiva, and the Brazilian's upturn in fortunes following Rodgers' dismissal ensures he takes the top spot in our October ranking.
Under Rodgers, Lucas represented a severely limited defensive-midfield option; sluggish and off the pace, the 28-year-old struggled to impose himself as a top-level midfielder.
But following Klopp's arrival, Lucas has produced a series of strong, dynamic displays at the base of the midfield. Though he has always possessed a biting challenge and intuitive reading of the game, Lucas now exhibits an energy, tenacity and finesse in Klopp's midfield three.
Against Southampton, Lucas made seven successful tackles and six interceptions—a combined total higher than any other player at Anfield that afternoon—and also shone in possession, completing the joint-most passes of any player (75), with a passing accuracy of 89.3 per cent, as well as making one key pass.
Lucas seems to have clicked with Klopp's ethos and now represents a key option for the German, pressing high, prompting attacks and diligently shielding his defensive line.
Battling back from the brink of a loan move to Besiktas to achieve No. 1 status in our October countdown of Liverpool's best players, Lucas' redemption act has been a pleasure to watch unfold.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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