Monday, October 31, 2022

Revert to his preferred 4-3-3, finally drop Fabinho, start searching for a midfielder to sign in January... and stop conceding so early! What Jurgen Klopp must do to halt Liverpool's slide and keep their top-four hopes alive

 Liverpool's defeat to Leeds leaves them eight points outside the top-four

Jurgen Klopp's side were just two games away from a quadruple last season

The German is struggling to rectify Liverpool's issues so far this campaign

Defeat by Leeds showed that the Reds might need to change back to a 4-3-3

Sportsmail takes a look at how Klopp can put the Reds back on the right track 

Jurgen Klopp is facing arguably his greatest challenge as Liverpool manager, with the Reds hitting a new low in their shocking 2-1 defeat by Leeds at Anfield. 

Five months ago, they were just two matches away from winning an iconic quadruple, now they are five points away from the relegation zone after a start to the season where everything appears to be going wrong.

Liverpool have changed to a 4-4-2 this month but the formation change hasn't worked

What was clear against Leeds was that there was a lack of control and the two starting midfielders - Fabinho and Thiago - were continually bypassed by the energetic players Leeds had against them.

The system also doesn't benefit Liverpool's full-backs. Andrew Robertson did well to provide width and was one of their biggest threats, but he and Trent Alexander-Arnold regularly received the ball with no help out wide and would often have to play back to Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez.

With younger, more energetic players in the centre of the park, Liverpool could make it work

But with Thiago, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson playing at their current levels, Liverpool will struggle to make the system work against teams with younger, more energetic players.

Fabinho and Thiago struggled to contend with Leeds' energetic midfielders at the weekend 

Drop Fabinho and Joe Gomez 

You could go through the Liverpool squad and say that the majority of them are not playing to their usual standards.

But in recent matches, perhaps the most obvious weak links have been Joe Gomez and Fabinho.

Fabinho, has been one of Liverpool's most reliable players since he joined the club, but this season he has been the shadow of the player that was the crucial cog in the midfield to help Liverpool win the biggest trophies in football. 


In the first-half against Leeds, Klopp vented his rage at Fabinho, who was clearly unimpressed by being the focus of his manager's attention.


It isn't the first time that Klopp has been frustrated with his Brazilian midfielder this season, and with no signs yet suggesting he will return to his previous best, perhaps it's time to drop the 29-year-old.


The normally reliable Fabinho has been performing well below his usual standards this season


Thiago struggled at the weekend but most of Liverpool's more impressive displays this season have been when he's been in the team and he should be the first name picked for their midfield.


Alongside him, even though he too has been off-form this season, the Reds should bring in captain Jordan Henderson.


Though his performances have also been underwhelming, there's no questioning his leadership and experience and what the Reds need more than anything is better organisation and control - something Henderson could help them towards more than Fabinho.


If Klopp does change to a 4-3-3, instead of playing Fabinho as the third man, then one of the youngsters including Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Fabio Carvalho should come in - all of which can offer the Reds a creative output to get the ball towards their forward players.


Joe Gomez gave away a penalty against West Ham and made a huge mistake against Leeds


Though Gomez impressed against Manchester City, since then he has struggled massively.


He was lucky West Ham didn't capitalise on the penalty he gave away for bundling over Jarrod Bowen, was given a hard-time against Nottingham Forest, and it was his poor back-pass that led to Leeds scoring inside four minutes. 


Gomez also struggled massively in the 4-1 defeat to tomorrow's opponents Napoli, and was at fault for the second and third goals in Italy.


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Ibrahima Konate is back from injury and he should be played alongside Virgil van Dijk against Napoli on Tuesday.


The Reds will be boosted by the return of defender Ibrahima Konate from injury 


Sort out their club doctor situation 


It's crazy to think but the Reds have been without a full-time club doctor since Jim Moxon left the club in August.


As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Head of Academy Medical, Bevin McCartan, and club physician Sarah Lindsay have temporarily assumed the primary medical duties with the first team this season and have been travelling to matches. 


Andreas Schlumberger, head of recovery and performance, has also taken on extra responsibilities to help out.


Extra attention has been brought onto the fact that Liverpool are without a full-time doctor, due to the injuries currently affecting the senior squad.


Darwin Nunez became the 19th different Liverpool player to miss at least one game this season through a fitness concern in the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.  


Meanwhile, Diogo Jota, Konate, Andy Robertson, Thiago, Naby Keita, Luis Diaz, Arthur Melo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Caoimhin Kelleher and Calvin Ramsay have all been sidelined for at least a month this season.  


The number of injuries racking up but will be a serious worry for Klopp, and the Reds will be keen to have a full-time club doctor appointed to see if that helps reduce the amount of players visiting the treatment room.


The Reds have been without a permanent club doctor since Jim Moxon left back in August 


Stop conceding so early! 


If there's anything he needs to do more than anything on this list, it's arguably to sort out the amount of times they concede the first goal in matches.


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It's a fact that's being played like a broken record, but it's something Liverpool can't seem to get out of their system.


The issue started at the end of last season and in seven of their 12 Premier League games this season they have conceded the first goal.


Only in one of those games, against Newcastle, did they come back and win - while in the other five games they've not conceded at all, winning four and drawing 0-0 with Everton.


Liverpool regularly concede the first goal in matches and Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli netted the quickest against the Reds this season inside the first minute at the EmiratesLiverpool would be in the bottom three if only the first-half of games counted in matches


Another telling statistic is that if games finished at half-time Liverpool would sit inside the relegation zone, with only Leeds and West Ham behind them but level on ten points.


On the other hand if only the second-half of matches counted, then Liverpool would be inside the top four with 22 points and just four off leaders Manchester City.


The mistake from Joe Gomez which allowed Rodrigo to score after four minutes on Saturday, typified how casual at times Liverpool have been defensively this season.


If they are to rectify this issue, then it will be no surprise to see the Reds climb the table.

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