Five Things Jurgen Klopp Must Get Right This Pre-Season
Jurgen Klopp’s most crucial pre-season kicked off this weekend with a number of familiar faces returning to the AXA training ground. After the failures of last season, no summer has matched the importance of this one during the German’s reign. Klopp and Liverpool must get it right in order to bounce back and challenge on all fronts.
The exciting Stefan Bajcetic took part in first-team training for the first time since his unfortunate injury and was joined by the likes of Darwin Nunez, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez. The internationals will join later in the week after their extended break involving new signings Alexis Mac Allister and Hungarian star Dominik Szoboszlai. Harvey Elliot and Curtis Jones will be the last to join the squad after their dramatic U21s European Championship triumph.
Here are the five factors Klopp must get right before the Reds head to Stamford Bridge for the opening game of the season:
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4-3-3 or 3-2-2-3?
Towards the end of last season, Klopp moved away from his trusted 4-3-3 which delivered the Premier League and Champions League to a new 3-2-2-3 formation. A system implemented by both Arsenal and Manchester City last season which sees a defender join the midfield in possession creates more attacking options. For Liverpool, this was Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The final 11 games of the season were Liverpool’s most successful run of the campaign using this new system which also allowed Alexander- Arnold, Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo to showcase their best attributes. However, certain players have been left in limbo. Andrew Robertson, a mainstay and consistent left-back throughout this successful era, has suddenly found himself playing out of position. Harvey Elliot is also potentially without a definite position place in the team.
Klopp will need to decide early on which formation to move forward with and which system gets the best out of his players.
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Trent’s New Position?
Since breaking into the Liverpool team, fans and pundits have consistently suggested moving the right-back into midfield to unlock his creative attacking threat and relinquish his defensive duties and restraints. Employed in this hybrid role towards the end of the season, Alexander-Arnold proved he has the ability to play in midfield and control games. He was then used by Gareth Southgate in the England set-up. Again, he proved his world-class ability and has ultimately created a headache for Klopp.
He has been one of the best right-backs in the world during the German’s era but is it now time to move the 24-year-old permanently and let him impact games more frequently? Only Klopp will know how he will utilise the England international this season and the picture should become clearer as pre-season moves forward.
The New Front Three?
And just like that, two of the famous front three have gone. Sadio Mane made the switch to Bayern Munich last summer and now Roberto Firmino is the next to leave as the Brazilian decided not to sign a new contract. Mohammed Salah remains. His world-class consistency and importance to this Liverpool team cannot be understated. The question is, who will join him in the new-look front three? Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz are the options to choose from.
Each player has their own unique attributes that the others do not possess. As the season ended Gakpo assumed the Firmino role knitting the play together, whilst Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota battled back from long-term injuries to fight for the left-wing spot. Nunez suffered a stop-start campaign in which he produced moments that highlighted why the money was spent on him but others that showed the inconsistencies in his game.
Come the 13th of August with full pre-seasons under each of their belts, Klopp must know his favoured trio. It’s a long season and each of the front five will play a vital part if Liverpool are to succeed.
Potential Signings
Although Mac Allister and Szoboszlai are through the door, many will feel more recruits are needed. With no international tournament, Klopp will have a clearer view of his squad and where needs improvement. Southampton’s Romeo Lavia is strongly linked to the Reds and also a move for a centre-back has been reported, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill is strongly admired.
The importance of this pre-season and transfer window are connected. The German can examine his squad intensely and decide how many more players he needs and whether they will improve the team.
Liverpool are still expected to add players to the squad but outgoings may be key to what they can do.
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The Darwin Nunez Conundrum
The Uruguayan became Liverpool’s most expensive signing in history last summer replacing Sadio Mane. The 23-year-old endured a fantastic season for Benfica and even scored against the Reds in the Champions League, clearly impressing Jurgen Klopp.
His arrival was met with excitement but with Erling Halaand joining Manchester City, Nunez has been unfairly compared to the Norwegian. The latter broke the Premier League scoring record.
Nunez has suffered a mixed start to life at Liverpool with injuries, inconsistent performances and position changes. He seems to have fallen behind Gakpo and Diaz in the pecking order. Despite that, he still managed 15 goals and 4 assists. His potential is clear.
It is Klopp’s job to figure out how to utilise him to get the best out of him. He has all the skills required to be a world-class striker. His pace, power and ability to be in the right place at the right time should benefit him in the upcoming season. Nunez must rediscover the form that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after.
