Liverpool Show 10-Month Progression Under Jurgen Klopp in Tottenham Hotspur Draw
WHITE HART LANE, London — Returning to the stage of his first outing as Liverpool manager for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off, Jurgen Klopp was looking for progress from a side that very much remains in its fledgling stage. But as they sealed a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur, the Reds showed sure signs of progress.
With both Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino famed for their demanding brand of high-pressing football, it proved to be a hard-fought clash with few clear-cut chances shared between the two sides over the course of the 90 minutes.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
But with James Milner converting a penalty on the stroke of half-time, after Roberto Firmino was felled in the Spurs box, Liverpool gained control at the interval.
This saw them dominate for much of the second half, but a powerful drive from Spurs left-back Danny Rose, followed up by a change in momentum for the home side, allowed Pochettino's side to seal a valuable home draw.
Liverpool took one point from their last trip to north London, too, but as the likes of Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and summer signing Sadio Mane interchanged brilliantly in the attacking third, there were clear differences in both approach and output from Klopp's side.
Just under 10 months on from Klopp's debut as Reds manager, there were real encouraging signs, as Milner's spot-kick earned Liverpool's fourth point of the 2016/17 campaign, boosting the Reds up the Premier League table.
As throughout 2016/17 so far, Klopp lined his side up in a 4-3-3 formation, with this new-look setup employed during pre-season to ensure slickness and fluidity—particularly with the considerable demands on German's three-man midfield.
Simon Mignolet kept his place in goal with summer signing Loris Karius still recovering from a broken hand, leaving Alex Manninger to occupy the role of back-up stopper; Caoimhin Kelleher, the Reds' 17-year-old Irish academy goalkeeper, travelled with the squad to gain more invaluable experience.
In defence, Joel Matip made his Premier League debut following a free transfer from Schalke 04 this summer, with the Cameroonian joined by Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Milner at left-back.
Jordan Henderson captained the Reds from midfield, flanked by Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana in Klopp's crucial box-to-box roles, with this trio tasked with providing a balance of industry and attacking flair.
Klopp left both Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi on the substitutes' bench, while Danny Ings travelled to north London but remained out of the 18-man squad, as Firmino was preferred up front, supported by Coutinho and £30 million winger Mane.
Just under 10 months on from Liverpool's last trip to White Hart Lane, Klopp's side was near unrecognisable, with just five players starting both—Mignolet, Clyne, Milner, Coutinho and Lallana.
It was Lallana's presence that was perhaps most telling, with the midfielder undergoing a remarkable development during his time under Klopp's tutelage.
On Klopp's arrival as Liverpool manager, Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe was among those to suggest that Lallana would struggle to adjust to the former Borussia Dortmund manager's demanding tactical approach:
"Everyone will be given an equal ground to prove themselves under the new man—even Jose Enrique, a defender consigned to the reserves under Rodgers due to a litany of reasons, may get a look in—and these first few weeks for Lallana are crucial.
If his muscles don’t prove durable, though, and he can’t make the impact expected of him in games, he may not be a Red much longer.
"
Largely, Tighe cited Lallana's worrying fitness record, his lack of pace and drop in influence since joining the Reds from Southampton in 2014 as key factors behind his concern. But since Klopp took up his position in the Anfield dugout, Lallana's fortunes have changed.
"At that time, I didn’t want to be captain," he told the Daily Mail's Dominic King before the trip to White Hart Lane, recalling his first days under Pochettino at Southampton. "I was 24. Being in the Premier League was pressure enough. There were times I’d be on the pitch thinking I didn’t want that armband."
On Saturday, however, while Lallana didn't take up the role of captain, he could be seen roaring his side on throughout, mirroring the actions of the animated Klopp in the technical area.
Not merely a vocal leader, Lallana also led by example as Liverpool imposed themselves with a high-intensity pressing game, charging into challenges with real tenacity from the first whistle and covering for the mistakes of others when required—such as in denying Dele Alli a shot on goal after Lovren was shrugged off by Harry Kane on the break on 12 minutes.
Lallana's slick attacking play also saw him link up encouragingly with Mane and Firmino moving into attack, with the former providing defence-stretching pace with runs peeling onto the right flank—the 28-year-old made two key passes, with only Firmino (five) making more for the Reds over the course of the 90 minutes.
The defining image of Klopp's first game as Liverpool manager came when Lallana was substituted, collapsing exhausted into the arms of his new mentor. But while there is still work to be done—namely in the quality of his final ball—the No. 20 is markedly improved 10 months on, particularly having survived a summer that saw Klopp sign a potential replacement in Mane, moving instead into a deeper role.
The introduction of Mane has given Liverpool further incision in attack, too, with the Senegalese winger's pace troubling Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm throughout. This provided the Reds with an added dimension when compared to 10 months ago.
Elsewhere, summer signing Matip impressed alongside Lovren at centre-back, lending Liverpool a more physical prospect in defending high balls lofted toward the likes of Kane. Meanwhile, Mignolet was in fine form for much of the clash—only let down when Rose drilled the ball through the Belgian at his near post.
There was a stronger sense of fluency in Klopp's 4-3-3 rather than the rigid, backs-to-the-wall football seen at White Hart Lane last time around, with Liverpool able to pass the ball around with more confidence, finding themselves on the front foot throughout.
Speaking after the game, however, Klopp admitted that, given the circumstances, "It feels worse than last time I was here," and this perhaps added some perspective.
The German seemingly feels that his side should be further on after 10 months than they seemed in north London on Saturday afternoon, with the previous weekend's 2-0 defeat away to Burnley still seared into his memory.
"We showed again that we can be really good," he added, "and that's what we have to show in each game, and then everything will be good," aligning with his pre-season comments, per the Guardian's Ben Fisher, that "consistency is the only way to be successful."
Like 10 months ago, Liverpool ran hard, pressed high and matched Spurs across the park, but the result remained the same.
However, in the improvement of Lallana, the added flair of Mane, the evergreen brilliance of Firmino and the defensive stability of Matip, Liverpool showed signs of progress under Klopp.
Jack Lusby will be covering Liverpool throughout 2016/17 as one of Bleacher Report's lead correspondents. Statistics via WhoScored.com.
Follow Jack on Twitter @jacklusby_ and Facebook here.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
