Rebuilding
Klopp was rumoured to be Pep Guardiola’s replacement at Bayern München once the Spaniard was to depart the Säbenerstrasse follwing the 2015-16 campaign. Before this could even happen, the Liverpool managerial position opened up out of nowhere. In October, 2015, a struggling Liverpool side found themselves in the middle of the Premier League table, with all title hopes dashed and the possibility of qualifying for Europe a laughable one.
“Kloppo” inherited a side that was miles away in terms of being in contention for a league title. This was primarily because of a horrid transfer policy during the Brendan Rodgers era, meaning, Rodgers himself was perhaps not the primary issue. There are still those who subscribe to the notion: It was FSG’s fault, not Rodgers’.
An overhaul of the Liverpool roster was desperately needed, though they would likely have to wait until the 2016 summer transfer window. In the meantime, Klopp would have to make do with the squad he had. LFC finished eighth in the Premier League that season, but Klopp, ever full of surprises, did guide The Reds all the way to the Europa League final, losing 1-3 to Sevilla. After only seven months having been at Anfield, this was quite the accomplishment.
When a new manager comes to a club, it is crucial for that person to stamp his/her brand on the squad. For Klopp, the brand was “heavy metal football.” Klopp is considered a mastermind of the Gegenpressing philosophy, which he popularized during his stay in the Bundesliga. It requires all outfield players to press the opposition immediately after being dispossessed. This style of play is highly aggressive and can be dangerous if everyone is not in sync, operating as a unit.
Gegenpressing essentially does not allow the opposition a chance to organize their attack upon gaining possession. This leaves them vulnerable to making an errant pass and poor execution in general. In theory, the suffocating press allows for a quick regaining of possession by the defence. Additionally, the side who was trying to advance will be caught off-guard with their own players streaking forward towards goal. This makes the opposition highly vulnerable to a quick counter-attack themselves, which is precisely the result Klopp aims for.
In order for Liverpool to excel in Jürgen Klopp’s system he would need the necessary players to carry out his vision. During the summer of 2016 Liverpool acquired Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan, Georginio Wijnaldum, and the sensational Sadio Mané. These players were to be the first pieces of Klopp’s LFC puzzle. Adding them to a nucleus of Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Adam Lallana, and the incredibly-gifted Philippe Coutinho appeared to be a good first move toward sustained success.
