How Worried Should Jurgen Klopp Be By Liverpool’s Opening Weekend Performance?
by Graham Ruthven
On the basis of Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Leeds United on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, the Reds remain as dangerous as ever as an attacking threat. Mohamed Salah struck a hat-trick to underline how Jurgen Klopp’s strike force can still outscore any opponent on their day.
At the back, though, a different tale was told. Liverpool struggled throughout against Leeds United, particularly in the first half when Patrick Bamford gave Virgil Van Dijk all sorts of problems. If the Dutchman is the best central defender in Europe, as so many believe he is, it wasn’t on display on Saturday.
Klopp didn’t seem to worried after the match by what he had seen. “I didn’t see us struggling defensively but the way they play you cannot defend 100 per cent of the time,” the German coach insisted. “It is pretty rare you see that many goals in a game, we have left space for improvement in our defending but that is not unusual for a first game. Our players have played a few days ago for their countries so it is possible.
“The opponent forced us to make mistakes, we can do better, we will do better but I loved a lot about the game against a well-organised, passionate side like Leeds. It is not like riding a bike, you can lose something in pre-season and it takes time to all come together again.”
Indeed, it often takes a team, even one as good as Liverpool, a number of matches to hit their stride at the start of a new season. Saturday’s match certainly had the feeling of an early season encounter, with both teams a little loose in their structure and general approach. Klopp’s explanation holds some water.
But looking at how Liverpool finished the 2019/20 Premier League season, the Liverpool boss is surely harbouring some concerns. Saturday’s result means the Reds have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six league outings. While this wouldn’t be much of a worry for most teams, Liverpool’s recent success has been built on their strength at the back. What happens when that is no longer there?
Complacency is the enemy of progress and it’s what Klopp must ensure doesn’t creep into the Anfield dressing room. There were potentially signs of this in the performance against Leeds United, though. This cannot be allowed to take root. The competition is far too stiff at the top of the Premier League for Liverpool to carry this any further than a few games into the season.
It could be argued that a lack of new arrivals over the summer transfer window may be a factor in any complacency in the Liverpool camp. Greek left back Kostas Tsimikas is the only player to have arrived at Anfield since the end of last season and he is only a depth option to provide cover for Andy Robertson.
Timo Werner would have provide genuine competition in the attacking positions, but the German striker instead joined Chelsea. As it is, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah know they will play almost every game for Liverpool this season. There’s a risk that they might get too comfortable in that security.
In defence, it’s a similar situation. Barring injury and suspension, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Robertson and Van Dijk know they will play close to every consequential match for Liverpool this season. Liverpool might well emerge from their opening day troubles to rediscover the form that made them runaway Premier League champions last season, but right now Klopp must find answers to some questions.