WHEN Carlo Ancelotti was sounded out for the Liverpool job, one of the points the Italian coach made was he felt a new spine of players would be needed in order to achieve success.
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| Jurgen Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers in October despite Liverpool being linked with Carlo Ancelotti |
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Jurgen Klopp's outlook was different. He believed the squad the departing Brendan Rodgers was leaving behind was a good one, flecked with quality.
It may have been a deciding factor in the search by Liverpool owners, Fenway Sports Group, for a new manager in October given the perception was Rodgers had stopped getting the most from the players at his disposal. Or it may not.
Ancelotti is, after all, someone who provides the finishing touches to sides already fine-tuned to winning trophies. Klopp has proved himself to be a builder of teams at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and there is no doubting which category Liverpool finds itself in.
Jurgen Klopp's outlook was different. He believed the squad the departing Brendan Rodgers was leaving behind was a good one, flecked with quality.
It may have been a deciding factor in the search by Liverpool owners, Fenway Sports Group, for a new manager in October given the perception was Rodgers had stopped getting the most from the players at his disposal. Or it may not.
Ancelotti is, after all, someone who provides the finishing touches to sides already fine-tuned to winning trophies. Klopp has proved himself to be a builder of teams at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and there is no doubting which category Liverpool finds itself in.
Klopp's view was rubber-stamped following his first game in charge, the goalless stalemate with Tottenham, after which he insisted: "We don't have to sprinkle magical dust on them: 'And now you can play football.' They know how to play."
There has been praise since then at regular intervals. He is not looking for a new goalkeeper, he is happy with his centre-backs, Roberto Firmino was a "good choice" by Liverpool, Christian Benteke can run more but is a goal-scorer and so on (although, tellingly, little has been mentioned about the centre of midfield.)
Sure there will be signings, most likely in the summer, but with a few tweaks the basis was there.
There has been praise since then at regular intervals. He is not looking for a new goalkeeper, he is happy with his centre-backs, Roberto Firmino was a "good choice" by Liverpool, Christian Benteke can run more but is a goal-scorer and so on (although, tellingly, little has been mentioned about the centre of midfield.)
Sure there will be signings, most likely in the summer, but with a few tweaks the basis was there.
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| Klopp and Ancelotti are two managers with contrasting philosophies |
The headline victory over Manchester City, less so the win at Chelsea given their travails, seemed to back everything up… and then the damning evidence served up by Saturday's defeat to West Ham, like the losses to Newcastle and Watford before that, challenges it all.
Klopp is finding the battle between nature and nurture harder than he imagined.
The idea that he can improve a group of players who had lost their way, point them in the right direction again, and that all their flaws would suddenly be eradicated.
Sergio Aguero can look off it and then come up with a crucial moment because class is permanent and all that. Manchester City team-mate Yaya Toure, too. Wayne Rooney's flicked winner for Manchester United was a reminder he is not finished.
There were no hugs from Klopp for his players at the weekend judging by his post-match TV interview which reassuringly did not hide from the squalid truth. They felt the full force of Klopp's hairdryer for the first time in the dressing room afterwards.
If there is mitigation it comes with the injuries Liverpool are carrying. Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Divock Origi, Martin Skrtel and Danny Ings affect how the manager can rotate, especially over this exacting period.
Klopp is finding the battle between nature and nurture harder than he imagined.
The idea that he can improve a group of players who had lost their way, point them in the right direction again, and that all their flaws would suddenly be eradicated.
Sergio Aguero can look off it and then come up with a crucial moment because class is permanent and all that. Manchester City team-mate Yaya Toure, too. Wayne Rooney's flicked winner for Manchester United was a reminder he is not finished.
There were no hugs from Klopp for his players at the weekend judging by his post-match TV interview which reassuringly did not hide from the squalid truth. They felt the full force of Klopp's hairdryer for the first time in the dressing room afterwards.
If there is mitigation it comes with the injuries Liverpool are carrying. Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Divock Origi, Martin Skrtel and Danny Ings affect how the manager can rotate, especially over this exacting period.
Yet from the moment Mamadou Sakho passed straight to a West Ham player within 15 seconds of the kick-off at Upton Park, the sense of foreboding ahead of the game was instantly reinforced.
Liverpool's passing was poor once again and the lack of goals is a particular worry. Just 22 goals scored in the first 20 games is the lowest ever in a Premier League season.
The problems run deeper.
Klopp has been portrayed as a touchline tyrant since arriving in England with high-profile spats ensuing with Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce after the Liverpool manager was unhappy with tackles on his players.
What Liverpool supporters would give for seeing a rival manager bristling because of a challenge from someone in a red shirt. This is not a call for Liverpool to turn into thugs, but their physical presence is barely there too often as to become the issue.
Liverpool's passing was poor once again and the lack of goals is a particular worry. Just 22 goals scored in the first 20 games is the lowest ever in a Premier League season.
The problems run deeper.
Klopp has been portrayed as a touchline tyrant since arriving in England with high-profile spats ensuing with Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce after the Liverpool manager was unhappy with tackles on his players.
What Liverpool supporters would give for seeing a rival manager bristling because of a challenge from someone in a red shirt. This is not a call for Liverpool to turn into thugs, but their physical presence is barely there too often as to become the issue.
Certainly, they will need to win the fight first at Stoke tomorrow and at League Two Exeter next Friday.
Theoretically, Liverpool still have everything to play for this season.
They are five (or eight) points off fourth place in the Premier League, travel to the Britannia in the Capital One Cup semi-final, first-leg, tomorrow, begin their FA Cup campaign at St James Park on Friday and have the last 32 of the Europa League waiting next month.
If Sturridge returns any time soon, then he does boast the quality to mask a multitude of shortcomings.
But relying on one player is not the point. Klopp is trailing in the one contest he needs to win: nature is over-riding nurture right now.
Theoretically, Liverpool still have everything to play for this season.
They are five (or eight) points off fourth place in the Premier League, travel to the Britannia in the Capital One Cup semi-final, first-leg, tomorrow, begin their FA Cup campaign at St James Park on Friday and have the last 32 of the Europa League waiting next month.
If Sturridge returns any time soon, then he does boast the quality to mask a multitude of shortcomings.
But relying on one player is not the point. Klopp is trailing in the one contest he needs to win: nature is over-riding nurture right now.
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