da spicy bet： Liverpool signed a number of European football’s top talents this summer, however, the fact remains that Jurgen Klopp still failed to tackle the club’s ongoing issues in key areas. Instead, Liverpool paid big money for players you could consider a ‘luxury’ rather than a necessity, and that could prove the downfall to the club as they prepare to challenge for domestic honours once again.
da wazamba： Following the dismissal of Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager in October 2015, Klopp arrived on Merseyside and instantly the feel-good factor returned to Anfield. The German’s impressive record at Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund meant Liverpool fans started to become giddy about the club’s future – and rightly so.
Taking control of a Premier League side once the season has started and the transfer window has closed means the incoming manager is forced to settle with a squad assembled by someone else. Despite this, Klopp’s ability to create a sense of team spirit and reestablish the famous Anfield atmosphere built a great level of anticipation amongst Liverpool fans towards the summer transfer window when the club would be able to provide funds to Klopp to create his own side.
The anticipation and expectation soon turned to despair and the realisation that, without Champions League football, Liverpool are unable to attract some of European football’s biggest players. Astonishment was the biggest feeling when it was announced Liverpool were set to pay north of £30million for Southampton forward Sadio Mane. The Senegal international had been a revelation for the South Coast side, but paying such a fee for a player who has never played Champions League football left many people scratching their heads at Klopp’s decision.
Not only is the fee surrounding Mane a head-turner, but the winger is a player that Klopp was not lacking already at Anfield. Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho are already better players than Mane, who will play in the same position as the two Brazilian playmakers.
Along with Mane’s staggering fee, Klopp was keen on Newcastle’s Georginio Wijnaldum to add further competition in Liverpool’s midfield. An impressive 11 goal return in his debut season in the Premier League convinced the German he was capable of carving out a successful career at Anfield, and he duly paid Newcastle a staggering £25million.
The fact is the majority Wijnaldum’s impressive season occurred prior to Christmas where he scored nine of his 11 goals for the club – he netted just twice as Newcastle continued to struggle for Premier League survival.
Loris Karius and Ragnar Klavan were both signed from midtable Bundesliga side’s Mainz and Augsburg respectively. Karius proved in the Bundesliga he was not a goalkeeper that could be considered to have the potential to be world-class with the stats proving he is a very similar player to Simon Mignolet, so the question must be asked is how has Klopp improved an ongoing issue?
Klavan, an Estonia international, earned a reputation in Germany for being solid, if not spectacular. The fact is, however, Klavan will not be a player who will be crucial to a Liverpool side that plans to compete for major honours, but more of a player who will increase Liverpool’s squad depth.
Alberto Moreno’s reckless defending meant his Anfield future was in doubt after a two poor seasons in the Premier League. Klopp seemingly identified his struggling left-back as a weakness in this Liverpool squad but did nothing to rectify the situation. German international Jonas Hector was monitored by the club before he opted to sign an extension with Cologne, and surely if Klopp pressed hard enough, a club with the status of Liverpool would have been able to force a deal.
Now the Kop chief is opting to play James Milner at left-back instead of Moreno. Milner’s versatility makes him a capable candidate to fill in at left-back, but the former England international is clearly struggling to cope with fast paced wingers. Klopp should have forked out the money to convince Hector to join before offering Southampton unnecessary cash for Mane.
Along with Hector, Mahmoud Dahoud was linked with a move to Liverpool all summer following an impressive first season with Bundesliga team Borussia Monchengladbach. His energetic performances meant he was crucial to his team’s success as they maintained their Champions League status with a fourth place finish. Granit Xhaka missed a number of games last season through suspension, which allowed Dahoud to become the star player in an extremely talented midfield.
Liverpool instead opted for Wijnaldum. Dahoud’s high energy and ability to dictate a game almost single-handedly means he would have been better value for money than the Newcastle midfielder.
The signing of Joel Matip from Schalke on a free transfer is undeniably a shrewd move by the former Dortmund manager as he looked to strengthen an already leaky defence following the departure of Martin Skrtel to Fenerbahce.
However, the sale of Christian Benteke to Crystal Palace and Daniel Sturridge’s ongoing injury battles meant Klopp surely should have looked to strengthen up front as Liverpool aim to challenge at the top of the Premier League. Once again that remained a position untouched by Klopp despite constant links to some of Europe’s best hit-men.
Liverpool’s ongoing issue at left-back and their fragility in central-midfield will continue as Klopp failed to acknowledge and strengthen. Instead, luxury signings such as Mane and Wijnaldum were secured for a combined fee of close to £60million when the club refused to pay the valuations set for other targets.
For these reasons, Jurgen Klopp has failed to live up to fans expectations.
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