Liverpool: Is there a 'retrograde prosperity'?

(Baonghean.vn) - After “Premier League Era: Pochettino Therapy” about Tottenham’s season preparation, Nghe An Newspaper will take a look at the clubs participating in the Premier League 2017-2018. With tons of money poured into English football, this is certainly still the top tournament in the continent.

At the end of the 2016-2017 Premier League season, Liverpool finished 4th, above both Arsenal and Man United, thereby qualifying for the 2017-2018 Champions League. This is the second time in the last 8 seasons that Liverpool finished in the group qualifying for the Champions League (the other time under coach Brendan Rodgers), so Jurgen Klopp and his team deserve to be commended.

But in reality, with a tight budget, not many world stars want to land in Liverpool. If they come to the English football field, people only think of the London teams, Man City, Man United rather than being Coutinho's teammates. When it comes to recruiting good players, has coach Jurgen Klopp been able to achieve the prestige: When we need it, we have it, when we want it, we get it?

Red Devils Sharp Claws

Under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp, the “red devils” of the Port City of Liverpool have a unique style of play. The starting point may be 4-3-3, 3-4-3 or 4-2-3-1, but in the match they move a lot, constantly change positions and suddenly accelerate to finish.

With this style of play, they had impressive wins against Arsenal, Leicester, Chelsea and Tottenham but struggled with the lower teams, focusing on layers of defense. In fact, with many fast midfielders, Jurgen Klopp is not afraid of teams playing offensively but is miserable against opponents who defend and counterattack.

Despite trying to find ways to manage, the squad in Jurgen Klopp's hands still lacks a certain depth and is shifted to the left where Sadio Mane takes charge. The midfield is the port city team's strong point, but without the absence of midfielder Coutinho, it is like "a devil without a claw".

Mohamed Salah has become the most expensive new player in Liverpool's history with a contract worth 36 million pounds. Photo: Internet

Liverpool's style of play under Klopp is the most dangerous, the most unique, with many matches that shook the Premier League, but lack of stability, so it cannot climb higher. Faced with the absence of Phil (Coutinho) or Daniel (Sturridge), and Danny Ings, coach Jurgen Klopp has shown a certain confusion many times.

Not participating in the Champions League, only having to play 47 matches/season, but the "red devils" showed signs of running out of steam at the end of the season. At the end of the season, Liverpool's offensive firepower was clearly lacking while the defense in the left-back and center-back positions left significant gaps.

With 42 goals conceded, Liverpool ranked second after Arsenal (44 goals) in the top 6 Premier League teams. There were many matches where Liverpool were "tortured" by small teams to an unbelievable extent, embarrassing both the coaching staff and the fans. The Red Devils had sharp claws but could not go far because of that!

Wealth and prosperity retreat

To participate in the Champions League and be able to be in the top 4 of the Premier League, coach Jurgen Klopp set the club's leadership 4 mandatory positions to supplement - including right winger, left back, central midfielder and center back. Up to now, Klopp has only been half successful with Salah and left back Andrew Robertson.

Coach Jurgen Klopp is still busy "shopping". Photo: Internet

Mohamed Salah has become the most expensive new player in Liverpool's history with a contract worth 36 million pounds. The Egyptian midfielder will play on the right wing, opposite Mane - Liverpool's squad will be extremely strong on both wings, not skewed to one side like before. In the absence of Mane, Salah can still comfortably switch to the left, more importantly, with Salah, midfielder Coutinho will be returned to the central area.

While Liverpool have agreed to spend 66 million pounds to pursue Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita but have not succeeded, they have to try to keep Coutinho from Barca's courtship. With 222 million euros from the sale of Neymar, Barcelona can afford to recruit Coutinho for 90 million pounds.

It is known that, because they have lost their star player to the Port City team too many times, Southampton will only agree to help center-back Van Dijk satisfy his wish if he chooses another team besides Liverpool, most likely rival Chelsea. This makes Liverpool fans both angry and restless.

Participating in the Champions League in a situation where the force is still "lacking in front, lacking in back" makes Liverpool fans worried. Under his predecessor Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool tried their best to be present in the Champions League arena but then "burned the rice, burned the fire". Many people think that coach Jurgen Klopp's talent is real but only luck can help the "red devils" have the same achievements as last year!

AT