Grading Jurgen Klopp's First 3 Months as Liverpool Manager

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his team's owners, John W. Henry and Tom Werner, delivered a simple mission statement on his arrival at the club in October. 

"I spoke to the people in charge of the club at length," he told German publication Bild (h/t the Guardian)."[There are no targets for this season], just simply to play football with a recognisable brand."

And now three months into his Anfield tenure, this is unlikely to have changed.

Replacing Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager after the Reds' disastrous start to the 2015/16 campaign outlined a big challenge for Klopp and his incoming backroom staff, Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz. And the 48-year-old acknowledged this as he continued discussing his objectives for the season:

"

There is no doubt, this is a huge challenge, for me and my coaching team. We knew that full well [when we accepted the job]. Liverpool have not had any success for a long time and they’ve changed the manager all the time. And now they have appointed a German who is no miracle worker. Progress is not possible without a bit of time.

"

Three months is far from the amount of time that Klopp will have earmarked when it comes to progression, but how has the former Borussia Dortmund manager fared during his time on Merseyside so far?

Here we grade Klopp's first three months as Liverpool manager.

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Atmosphere

While in the boardroom, Henry and Werner staunchly backed Klopp, understanding the magnitude of the work ahead. The German endeared himself to supporters immediately upon his arrival on Merseyside.

"At the moment, all of the LFC family is a little bit too nervous, a little bit too pessimistic, too often in doubt," he said in an interview with LFCTV. "They all celebrate the game. It’s a great atmosphere in the stadium, but they don’t believe at the moment."

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When asked to provide a message to supporters, Klopp offered just nine words: "We have to change from doubter to believer. Now."

Having enjoyed a strong relationship with the Dortmund support in his seven years at the Westfalenstadion, Klopp had arrived at a club where morale was low and belief was sparse in the stands. His first task was to bring optimism to Anfield.

In just three months, he has managed to do so.

While the appointment of a world-class manager was likely to buoy the Liverpool support, the way in which Klopp conducts himself is the main factor in a remarkable turnaround.

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Under Rodgers, a 2-2 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion, for example, would have sparked vitriol within the Kop. But as Divock Origi's 95th-minute effort deflected beyond Boaz Myhill to secure Liverpool an unlikely point in December, Anfield was jolted into life.

Applauded as he joined his side to salute the home support at full time, Klopp's effect on morale at Anfield was clear.

The last game of this three-month spell, away to Exeter City in the FA Cup, also brought a 2-2 stalemate. Alhough Liverpool would be expected to overwhelm League Two opposition, that supporters were content with a young Reds side earning a draw at St. James Park shows Klopp's influence.

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Player Development

Continuing to explain how he would approach his first months as Liverpool manager, Klopp stressed that he would focus on the players within his squad, rather than keep one eye on the future and possible recruitment.

"Whether there is money to spend in January or not doesn’t interest me," he said. "We are only in October, and I don’t even know how many games we’ve got until the transfer window opens. And therefore, we will have a look at the players at our disposal first."

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This was a welcome contrast to some of Rodgers' last words as Liverpool manager. The Ulsterman told reporters, including the Guardian's Richard Jolly, after September's 3-2 win at home to Aston Villa, "If you give me the tools, I’ll do the work."

Klopp possesses an intrinsic faith in player development, having nurtured the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze from unpolished gems to Bundesliga stars during his time at Dortmund.

This was set to continue at Liverpool, and while his squad has been hampered with regular injury issues in his first three months, Klopp's ability to hone a player's raw talent has been apparent during his time at Anfield so far.

Origi, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can and Dejan Lovren have all noticeably improved following Klopp's arrival, while young players such as Brad Smith and Connor Randall have made the step up from Liverpool's academy ranks.

Speaking after Liverpool's 2-2 draw away to Exeter, Smith told LFCTV that "[Klopp's] been telling me what he wants from me and stuff like that." And having scored a late equaliser at St. James Park, it was clear that the German's influence has been positive.

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However, some players have struggled with Klopp's trademark brand of high-intensity attacking football imposed on the Liverpool squad midway through the 2015/16 season.

Christian Benteke is a prime example. Rodgers' key summer acquisition, the Belgian was ostensibly signed to fill the role of Liverpool's first-choice centre-forward. But Klopp's arrival—and added demands in leading the line—has so far seen Henry and Werner's £32.5 million investment squandered.

With Klopp unable to stamp his authority on his personnel up to this point, this is to be expected, however. But the Kop's miracle worker has been unable to coax form out of some of his stars.

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Results

When assessing Klopp's first three months on Merseyside, it is impossible to ignore Liverpool's muted run of form under the German.

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In their first 11 games in the Premier League with Klopp at the helm, for example, Liverpool have picked up 18 points—under Rodgers, Liverpool picked up only six fewer in nine games.

This has included defeats to Watford, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, as well as December's draw with West Brom. Three months after Klopp's arrival, Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League, only two places higher than when Rodgers was dismissed.

However, there are many reasons for optimism when it comes to results.

Klopp's first three months in charge have brought victories over Chelsea and Manchester City in the league, as well as a phenomenal performance away to Southampton in the League Cup at the beginning of December, resulting in a 6-1 victory.

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Liverpool have also advanced to the knockout stages of the Europa League under Klopp and remain hopeful of securing silverware in both the FA Cup and the League Cup.

That Klopp has managed to maintain a steady—if unspectacular—level of form with his squad consistently hampered with injuries—13 first-team players are currently sidelined—should be commended.

The German has not had the immediate effect that supporters may have hoped for, but Klopp's success at Liverpool was expected to be gradual.

There is much work to be done, but Klopp can be content with his steady start to life on Merseyside. 

Grade: B-

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