How Jurgen Klopp Is Reshaping Liverpool's Attack Ahead of 2016/17 Season
Every summer, supporters—like managers—will analyse their team's squad and ponder which positions need strengthening the most during the transfer window.
For years now, Liverpool supporters have yearned for a new left-back and some sort of holding/defensive midfielder. Arguably, they've been the positions of need for six years now, since Javier Mascherano departed for Barcelona.
During that time, many left-backs have been acquired—from Paul Konchesky to Alberto Moreno—but none have convinced. Left-back has been a problem position at Anfield for two decades now, with only John Arne Riise ever establishing himself as a solid option but one who still had defensive weaknesses.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Alas, so far this summer, Jurgen Klopp has made seven signings at Liverpool, and none of them are the aforementioned left-back or holding midfielder the Reds' squad needs.
Klopp has refused to rule out further signings before the transfer window closes at the end of this month, meaning a left-back in particular could still arrive through the doors at Melwood.
"The final word is 31 August. Until then you have to be ready to do something on the selling side or the buying side," explained Klopp, per the Express' Joe Short. "Maybe one or two things can happen."
Having failed so far to address these two problem positions, supporters may feel concerned ahead of the new campaign, but what Klopp has done with the signings he has made is make Liverpool a far stronger proposition in the spine of the team.
New goalkeeper Loris Karius will provide competition for Simon Mignolet, while Alex Manninger will bring valuable experience on the training ground while acting as third-choice 'keeper. Both are smart additions for another area that desperately needed attention.
The two new centre-backs, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, provide different qualities, with Matip expected to battle with Dejan Lovren on the right side at the heart of the Reds' defence and Klavan to compete with Mamadou Sakho for the left side.
"He is a left-footed player so will give us extra balance," said Klopp of Klavan after his arrival from Augsburg, per James Carroll of Liverpool's official website.
Where that trio of defensive signings fit in is pretty straightforward, but it's as we look at Klopp's attacking signings that things become more interesting.
The arrival of Sadio Mane certainly fills a void in the squad—adding a wide player who offers goals and pace. Only youngsters Jordon Ibe and Sheyi Ojo provided an option as a winger last season, with Ibe now moved on to Bournemouth and Ojo potentially heading out on loan.
Mane has been one of the consistent performers during pre-season, occupying the right-forward role in Klopp's attack, with the manager shifting from his traditionally preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and opting for 4-3-3 predominantly in the nine pre-season friendlies.
It's with this in mind that the other arrivals, Georginio Wijnaldum and Marko Grujic, come into the equation.
Both have operated within the midfield three during pre-season, with Klopp seemingly looking to get plenty of runners from midfield arriving into the box and providing goals from this area. This was evident against Barcelona at Wembley, where the Reds turned over possession in central zones and released players into the box with devastating effect.
Klopp appears to be looking to play Emre Can as the central, holding midfielder at the base of the midfield three, with the likes of Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana competing for the two other midfield spots. These are the players who will be tasked with supplying goals from midfield—something Liverpool have lacked in recent years.
It marks a change in approach from Klopp, who opted for 4-2-3-1 predominantly during his eight years at Borussia Dortmund.
Flexibility
Repeatedly the manager has spoken of the importance of his squad, and his new signings in particular, being tactically flexible.
Speaking to the club's website after the arrival of Wijnaldum, the boss assessed (h/t the Guardian's Mark Dobson): "He can play a few positions for us and players that come through the Dutch system usually have a good tactical understanding and flexibility. That’s really important."
Wijnaldum can play as the No. 10 if/when Klopp opts for the 4-2-3-1 formation, while also operating within the midfield three in a 4-3-3. Similarly, Mane can play on the right but also centrally or on the left if required.
The manager wants such flexibility within the game, perhaps hinting at Liverpool's weakness previously with their in-game management.
"You have to be flexible enough to react to situations in the game," Klopp told Goal's Melissa Reddy recently.
Too often Liverpool were accused of being naive and failing to close out games or react to situations last season; the main case in point being the Europa League final defeat to Sevilla.
So while 4-3-3 may be the starting formation of choice, it won't be the only system used and players will be expected to react and change as required in-game.
It's with that in mind that Klopp has hinted at playing two up front. "With the strikers we have, even a system with two up front is possible, so we don’t have to close our minds to just one system," he told Reddy. "We have the talent to be flexible."
Attacking Options
Due to Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge's Euro 2016 involvement, and Roberto Firmino having had the summer off, it's the Brazilian who has operated as Liverpool's No. 9 for most of the Reds' pre-season.
Speaking after the Barcelona match, Klopp said, per Sky Sports: "Roberto Firmino is man of the pre-season for me. From the very first game he has been performing, even if he has not scored. What a worker!"
With Sturridge sidelined through injury and not being match fit yet anyway and Origi having arrived back from pre-season later than the rest, it's Firmino who is likely to lead the Liverpool attack for their season opener at Arsenal on Sunday.
It's a position the former Hoffenheim man excelled in back in January, scoring twice against Arsenal at Anfield and twice at Norwich City.
Klopp's use of Firmino this summer, combined with the use of the 4-3-3 formation, indicates that this is where the manager now sees him being used predominantly. Firmino occupied the No. 10 role behind the main forward with most regularity last season, but that role doesn't exist in a 4-3-3 system.
So Firmino, Origi and Sturridge appear to be the manager's options as the No. 9.
This explains why Christian Benteke is being allowed to leave the club and could also mean Danny Ings—who has been available for the full pre-season but not featured as heavily as you'd expect—could yet be allowed to leave on loan.
Effectively, by acquiring players like Grujic and Wijnaldum who will operate as box-to-box midfielders tasked with arriving into the area and providing goals, making third-man runs and pressing in central areas, Klopp has changed Liverpool's attacking style completely and, with it, changed Firmino's role.
Klopp likes Firmino's work rate and ability to close down at the correct angles when operating as the forward.
Meanwhile, Origi has all the attributes required to play as No. 9 for Klopp and is arguably the forward most similar to Robert Lewandowski that the Reds have.
Sturridge, even when fit, could have a job on his hands to become the first-choice striker.
What all this means is that there is genuine competition for places at Liverpool heading into the 2016/17 season, particularly in the attacking areas.
Liverpool's top goalscorer (all competitions) for the last two seasons has scored just 13 goals. This season that will all change.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
