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It was a bleak October morning in 2015 when Anfield revealed its new head, a happy German lovingly dubbed "Kloppo", to the footballing world. The dismay and gloom that reigned over the previous months which saw the decay of the Brendan Rodgers era were forgotten at the first sight of that smile.
Social media records were made as fans of Liverpool FC and the rest of the footballing world welcomed the giant German to the 'Home of Football.' Within moments of his arrival he had become a symbol of hope for the Anfield contingent across the globe. The only thing missing was a suit with the letter 'S' and a cape. 'The normal one' in his first interview with the club had one message for the fans.
"We have to change from doubters to believers.", the most beloved manager in world football at the time announced to the supporters around the globe. He may not admit it, but this philosophy has also been his downfall at major points in his Liverpool FC career.
UEFA Europa League FInal 2016
Unai Emery's outfit may have headed to Basel eyeing a hat-trick of European cups but the attention was all on the reds from Merseyside who overcame the likes of Manchester united, Villareal and especially Borussia Dortmund, gifting us a match not suitable for the weaker hearts.
But what the world witnessed in St. Jakob-Park was Liverpool's defensive frailties as Alberto Moreno's errors led his former teammates to yet another Europa League trophy. The man dubbed as 'The heir to Riise' has not recovered since. But, keeping his trust on the young Spaniard, Jurgen Klopp signed no full back in the following summer window with just the additions of Loris Karius, Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan in defense.
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#5 Alberto Moreno
The first game of the premier league season against Arsenal saw the reds display the first sign of what Klopp's gegenpressing football would look like. But once again the defensive unit showed no signs of improvement with yet again the flawed left-back being at fault for the first goal conceded.
The likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Zidane, to name a few top class managers of football, would never have let the players who constantly disappoint be a part of the team. Although different characters, these managers exhibited the same ruthlessness- another reason for their success.
The mantle of 'Left-back' was then passed onto the ageing James Milner, who in comparison to Alberto Moreno appeared world class. The following year also saw Klopp sticking with the Spaniard as a relatively unknown Andy Robertson had just begun to ply his trade at Melwood.
#4 Dejan Lovren
"If you score against us, we will buy you." This seemed to Liverpool FC's message to Southampton FC players from 2013 to 2016. And Dejan Lovren did, so Liverpool bought him in the summer of 2014 with the Suarez Funds. Fresh out of a league title collapse, and licking their wounds, the team was focused on the defence, bringing in the big Croatian whose Liverpool career began with a bang, ironically, by a thumping header goal against Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at Anfield.
But it didn't take too long to see that the cracks were just papered over, with the team failing to qualify for the Champions League and finishing just two points above Southampton. Dejan Lovren, over the course of his Liverpool career, has exhibited strength and qualities that made Liverpool buy him, but his erroneous performances against the biggest names in top-flight football are what usually made the headlines.
The self-proclaimed "One of the best defenders in the world" has been identified as the weak link in the new look Liverpool back line with teams often seeming to target the Croatian during counter attacks and set pieces.
#3 Simon Mignolet
"If a goalkeeper makes a hundred saves and one mistake, he'll be remembered for the mistake." Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius between them will be remembered as the most error-prone goalkeeper partnership in Liverpool's premier league history. The former was a better shot-stopper while the latter was lauded for his playing out from the back.
Mignolet's first three years at Anfield have seen him dropped multiple times, for the likes of Brad Jones and Adam Bogdan, most famously when he was made to sit out Liverpool's 3-0 loss at Old Trafford.
The second best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga was seen as the answer to all of Jurgen Klopp's problems. But once it felt like a hit and miss. The following two seasons saw the reds change the no.1 role between the two goalkeepers, conceding around the hundred goal margin. At the other end, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool had become the face of attractive football, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane netting goals for fun. But they were still impaired in the most important position, which came to light in Kiev as the football fans around the world witnessed an unforgettable final.
#2 Daniel Sturridge
From being one of the spearheads of the "S.A.S" strike force that almost led Liverpool to a Premier League title in 2014 to an outcast clinging onto a bench-warming role, Daniel Surridge's career has been, a downward slope.
Hit by injuries since Klopp first took over, the player still remains the only striker in the Liverpool squad in most matchday squads with Divok Origi often missing out. Completely out of place in a gegenpressing team, the player has not only been stagnating in the squad but also blocking the entry of any new forward into the squad. His recent years has displayed a decline in pace and finishing which made him force a loan move to West Bromwich Albion.
"It felt like being with the wrong woman" Sturridge described his time away on loan at West Brom. Seen by Klopp as a substitue to Firmino, Sturridge is yet to showcase any of the Brazilian's qualities.
#1 Adam Lallana
If having your boss as your neighbour has helped anyone, then it's Adam Lallana. The once-promising Southampton youngster was seen as England's answer to David Silva with his finesse and grace on the ball, a characteristic that separated him from other English midfielders. Given the nod by Brendan Rodgers, he was brought into the Scouse outfit with the hope of starting where he left off in Southampton.
But just like his compatriot Daniel Sturridge, Lallana to has suffered many an injury during his time at Liverpool. Though unlike the former, Lallana did develop massively in the early months of Jurgen Klopp.
Dubbed as the 'teachers pet' by fellow players, Lallana's relationship with Klopp can be best explained from the celebration scenes at Norwich in 2016. "Lallana is like a world class signing" is a phrase repeated by Klopp every time he returns from injury. But how much more time are the fans willing to give the Englishman before a proper creative midfielder is brought in?
Klopp's faith has turned many players into gems. The likes of Matts Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson are just a few of the examples that come to mind.
But some others have let him down time and again in the biggest of stages including the Europa League final, two champions league finals, the DFB Pokal final and the carabao cup final. Jurgen Klopp has not won any of his last seven finals. An argument could be made that he led the dark horses to the final and were never the favourites.
But now sitting four points top of the table and the Premier League title up for grabs, with injuries to many players should Klopp bank on his error-prone squad members or should he replace them with the greater good in mind?
