Liverpool: Is there a 'retrograde wealth'?

(Baonghean.vn) - After “Premier League Era: Pochettino Therapy” about Tottenham’s season preparation, Nghe An Newspaper will take turns listing 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 has finished in the group qualifying for the Champions League (the other time under coach Brendan Rodgers), so Jurgen Klopp and his team deserve a lot of praise.

But in reality, with a tight budget, not many world stars want to come to 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 Devil 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 around a lot, constantly changing positions and suddenly speeding up 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, possessing many fast midfielders, Jurgen Klopp is not afraid of teams playing against each other but is miserable against opponents who defend and counterattack.

Despite trying to find ways to manage, the squad under Jurgen Klopp 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 midfielder Coutinho, it is like "a devil without a claw".

Mohamed Salah has become the most expensive new signing 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 they cannot climb higher. Faced with the absence of Phil (Coutinho) or Daniel (Sturridge), and even Danny Ings, coach Jurgen Klopp has shown some 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 attacking firepower was clearly lacking while the defense at the left-back and center-back positions left significant gaps.

With 42 goals conceded, Liverpool ranked 2nd after Arsenal (44 goals), the team that conceded in the group of 6 Premier League giants. There were many matches where Liverpool was "tortured" by small teams to an unbelievable extent, losing face for both the coaching staff and fans. The Red Devils had sharp claws but could not go far because of that!

Wealth retreats

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 board of directors 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 signing 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 flanks, 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, they have struggled to keep Coutinho from Barca. 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 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 squad is still “lacking in front and behind” makes Liverpool fans worried. Under predecessor Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool tried their best to be present in the Champions League arena but then “failed”. Many people believe that coach Jurgen Klopp’s talent is real but only luck can help the “Red Devils” achieve the same results as last year!

AT