The Rearguard Solution
Centre-back partnerships can offer sublime foundations and turn teams into serial winners. Alessandro Costacurta and Franco Baresi jump to the front of that formidable list, as a partnership that allowed the rest of the side to dominate literally everyone.
In the modern game (especially within the Premier League), the ferocity of play and sheer culmination of games has now enforced adjustment to Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp’s thinking. The reds have started the season in an impressive manner, and the four …
Klopp’s Campaign Management
Stubbornness, single mindedness, arrogance and an absolute inability to adjust one's methods, can be the downfall of even the best managers in modern football.
In recent years we have seen the likes of Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, unable to adapt to the modern needs of Premier League football, with both departing the division at relative low points. The signs are often evident, the fall off from brilliance usually gradual, but the reason for the decline always consistent. Football changes, …
“We Push Nothing” - Klopp Adamant Defenders Will Still Not Be Rushed
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp insists Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez will not be rushed back into action despite their return against Hertha BSC.
The central-defensive pairing came on together for the last 20 minutes of The Reds' 4-3 friendly defeat against Hertha Berlin in Innsbruck, Austria.
However, Klopp has revealed that their return to full fitness will continue at a slow, patient rate as he manages the expectations of Liverpool fans everywhere.
From Liverpool's new training venue, Évian in …
Klopp on Hertha Defeat and the Return of Van Dijk and Gomez
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp saw plenty of room for improvement on the pitch as The Reds lost 4-3 to Hertha BSC in their latest friendly.
Sadio Mané, Takumi Minamino, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were on the scoresheet for Klopp's side while Mohamed Salah, Naby Keïta, and Harvey Elliott impressed throughout.
Scrappy defending at the other end meant Liverpool fell to their first loss of the summer so far, however.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com after the match, Klopp spoke of both the positives …
Klopp Gives Injury Update on Defensive Quartet From Austria
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp gave an injury update on four of The Reds' defenders who are recovering from serious injuries.
The four players in question were Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joël Matip, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Van Dijk and Gomez have been injured since October and November respectively. Matip has been out since January while Alexander-Arnold was injured in an England friendly shortly before the Euros.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Klopp offered the following insight into each of their current situations, …
Reds Get Stuck Into Second Day of Training in Austria
Liverpool are settling into their Austrian training camp as they stepped it up a gear on their second day in the Salzburg region.
A spec-less Jürgen Klopp - rumours are that he may have had laser eye surgery - oversaw proceedings with his coaching staff in the beautiful surroundings.
The Reds welcomed back players from long-term injuries such as Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joël Matip. Matip and Gomez could be seen in the Liverpoolfc.com photos taking part in …
Two Liverpool defenders step up rehabilitation from long-term injuries
Liverpool defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez continued their rehabilitation from long-term injuries at the AXA Training Centre this week.
The official club site posted some pictures that should be hugely encouraging to Reds fans as we look forward to next season. Van Dijk and Gomez can be seen doing some light running and work with the ball in those photographs.
The scars of the surgeries Gomez has undergone can be seen. The 23-year-old defender has suffered a fractured …
Joe Gomez enters defining period of his Liverpool career
Joe Gomez has now been a Liverpool player for almost six years, which doesn't seem possible.
In fact, he is now the fourth-longest-serving player at Anfield, behind Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi and James Milner, yet is still only 23 years of age.
Gomez's Liverpool career has been a curious one, with endless moments of promise, exceptional runs in the team, but also a worrying list of injury layoffs.
His early performances for the Reds in those first few weeks of …
Set Piece Toothlessness Hindering Liverpool After Defensive Injury Nightmare
Liverpool's defensive injury crisis has hindered them in so many ways this season.
Losing Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip has obviously hamstrung the defending champions in defence, not that you would necessarily know it from the goals conceded column.
The break glass in case of emergency defenders -- Fabinho and Jordan Henderson -- have coped admirably with their new tasks and Liverpool, on the whole, have been solid at the back. The 7-2 evisceration at Villa Park, …
Stop Playing Thiago As The 6, Liverpool
The medium to long term losses of Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk and the continued inconsistencies in Joel Matip's fitness record doesn't only impact Liverpool in defence.
Of course, regularly not having three defenders of that calibre is harmful to a team's prospects of keeping clean sheets. But it's the Reds' midfield that has borne the brunt of the defences injuries.
Fabinho, who has excelled in the new role that he's learned on the hoof, has had to moonlight …