Liverpool is on the up, the players are playing out of their skins, the fanbase is united, Brendan Rodgers has gone and Jürgen Klopp is now in charge. Genuine footballing superstars like Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane and Tino Horn are being linked with the club and there is a real possibility that some of them if not all of them could sign for Liverpool, something we could only dream about under the last regime and finally, every Liverpool fan around the world wants a Jürgen Klopp hug. I secretly think every football fan around the world wants one of Klopp’s hugs as well.
Since Jürgen Klopp has come in, every player in the Liverpool team, Dejan Lovren included, has stepped up their game. They’re all playing for each other again and all seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet something again that wasn’t present towards the end of the last regime. For me two of the many Liverpool players who have improved since Jürgen Klopp took over are Lucas Levia and wait for it, Adam Lallana. I know the mention of Lallana playing well will need me to wear my tin hat, well it’s on.
When Lallana signed for Liverpool from Southampton he came with a big price tag but not that big considering his nationality. He was youngish, English and because of this a lot was expected from him, not only from the Liverpool fans but also the British media. After all he had just joined one of, if not the biggest club in England. His arrival at Anfield also brought the responsibility of England caps with it.
Adam Lallana divided the Liverpool fan base from the very off. Some were happy to see him come in, after all if you leave your previous club as captain, there has to be some talent there.
His first season for Liverpool was tough, to say the least. It seemed like he was trying too hard at times to show he belonged at Liverpool, that the money Liverpool spent on him was value for money and that he was able to step up to the next level. For all his enthusiasm, his performances were, to say the least, terrible at times. Liverpool fans could see he was, at times, trying too hard. Trying too often to play the champagne pass. Giving the ball away far too easily and at times he looked lazy, when it came to chasing back a lost ball. This infuriated some of the Liverpool fans. I’ll throw my hands up in the air and say I didn’t/don’t think he’s good enough for Liverpool, then again I said the same about Jordan Henderson and look how that turned out. I don’t think too many fans would have shed a tear if, during the summer he was sold or loaned out like Lazar Markovic was and we all groaned collectively when we saw that this wasn’t going to happen.
But then along came Jürgen Klopp. The German maestro breathed a massive breath of fresh air into Liverpool Football Club. He brought his unique way of playing. Something that excited Liverpool fans, as his way of playing at his previous club had drawn plaudits from around the world. He played an exciting brand of football. Each player now knows where they’re supposed to be on the pitch and what player they’ve to press from the opposition team at any given time. This kind of organisation has helped Lallana come on in leaps and bounds in the last few weeks. His lazy behaviour from last season is nearly wiped out. We’re not screaming at the TV as often when he’s on the ball. His new found freedom/confidence has helped him grow into the player many thought he would become and maybe he will prove value for money. Don’t get me wrong, he’s by far the finished product and at his age he should be but Jürgen Klopp seems to be getting the best out of him and he’s turned into an integral part of the Liverpool attack.
Such is his improvement recently, I don’t think he’ll lose his place in the team once Daniel Sturridge is back firing on all cylinders. I think Klopp is going to have to find a way to accommodate Sturridge in the team with the rejuvenated Lallana, maybe at the expense of another player. Off the top of my head I would say James Milner and I don’t think too many fans would disagree with me there.
As I said already, another player who I thought was dead and buried as a Liverpool player was the Brazilian Lucas Levia. But again how wrong was I about him. (Seems I don’t know football as well as I think I do). His transformation since Jürgen Klopp took over is nothing sort of a miracle. He’s turned into the player that he always believed he could become. Like Lallana he’s energised when he’s out on the pitch. In the past he was famed for his stupid sense of timing when it came to tackling especially when Liverpool were defending. Whatever Klopp was done to him, he’s turned him into a proper player. A player that, now many Liverpool fans wouldn’t see dropped for love or Gundogan. I myself was always very critical of him, in actual fact I think I would have done a little dance if he had moved on last summer, that’s how much I didn’t rate him. But thankfully he stuck around and he’s now playing the best football of his life. While his legs seem to be going a little bit, his footballing brain has finally switched on. Better late than never huh, and along with Firmino and Phillipe Coutinho I expect him to play many more games for Brazil in the next couple of years. And if Jürgen Klopp can get the best out of these two players I’m giddy with excitement to see what he can do with Emre Can or Jordan Henderson or Firmino or Phillipe Coutinho. I feel that he’ll turn them all into world beaters.
Bring on the Klopp era. Bring on some more trophies. Bring on the continued improved performances for both Adam Lallana and Lucas Levia and finally bring on the rest of the Premier League.