Reasons why Klopp’s Liverpool deserve to win the Europa League

Since the start of the season it’s been a roller coaster journey for Liverpool Football Club. Brendan Rodgers had a horror start of the campaign. Liverpool carried their depleted form in the league from last season and they started the campaign as they ended the last time around where they were humiliated 6-1 at Stoke City. 

And to complete the misery it was Steven Gerrard’s (who is arguably the greatest ever player to play for Liverpool) last game in a Red shirt. He actually scored in that game. Shock and faces of despair arose as Liverpool carried their shocking form in the start of the new season.

The team was heading nowhere and questions were asked about Brendan Rodger’s job. He had no answer to the criticism he received and fans very getting worried about yet another season going to waste. On 4^th October 2015 he was finally released by the club owners. A new chapter was about to start in Liverpool Football Club’s history. Jurgen Klopp was appointed as the manager on 8^th of October just 4 days after the sacking of Rodgers. Many claim that the sacking of Rodgers was at the wrong time and he should’ve been sacked way before the start of the season. Nevertheless, Klopp took over and everyone was emphatic  about his inclusion. He was known as a very passionate and a desirous manager in his Mainz and Dortmund days. He is well known for his astonishing connection with  the players and the fans. He grinds out the best in his players and is right up there with the likes of Mourinho, Guardiola, Wenger etc. Liverpool fans knew there were exciting times ahead but there was some work to be done. Rodgers left the squad with no confidence and ambition whatsoever. The change of attitude in players was much needed to bring the best out of them and give satisfying results as a team.

Klopp’s appointment sent a sigh of relief to majority of the fans. His connection with the fans and his amazing passion for the game can only be match with the passion and loyalty of Liverpool fans. It is a match made in heaven. Fans have been waiting for so long for someone to deliver the Premier League title for Liverpool. It was Rafael Benitez who came the closest to the League glory and Rodgers as well. Liverpool played immensely great on the big occasions like in the champions league fixtures and big league games with Chelsea and Man United. Rodgers failed to deliver in Europe.

Jurgen Klopp’s appointment was a blessing for a club like Liverpool who are rich in history yet underachieving in the modern era. They needed someone of his stature to build a team which will give happiness as well as glory to the loyal fans. Players like Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Joe Allen, Lucas and Mignolet were criticized and fans wanted them to leave the club for good. Klopp’s appointment changed the whole complexion of the squad. The players who were low on confidence delivered when it mattered. There were questions asked about James Milner being the captain of the club in Henderson’s absence. He was bought on a free transfer from city and was made the vice captain by Rodgers. There was tremendous pressure on his shoulders. He took his time but then settled in the squad quite nicely and played a crucial role in some of the big games they played under Klopp.

The two most difficult fixtures of the season for any team were the away fixtures to Man City and Chelsea. Liverpool went to Stamford Bridge and literally stunned the defending champions winning 3-1 with a brace from Coutinho and a goal from Benteke. Few weeks after that they had another big game against City at the Etihad where they literally destroyed Manchester City with one of the most breathtaking performances of the season by a visiting  side. Jurgen Klopp’s men set the trend to deliver on big occasions and same happened in Europe where they were ready to face their fiercest rivals Manchester United in the round of 16. Goals from Firmino and Sturridge led to a 2 goal advantage in the second leg where Coutinho’s marvelous chip to De Gea stunned the Old Trafford faithful and Liverpool cruised through to the quarterfinal where they were set to face the tournament favorites and Jurgen Klopp’s former team Borussia Dortmund. This fixture had everything in the build up. It was set to be an emotional return for Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool went to Dortmund for first leg where they played really well and held Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw.

The stage was set at Anfield as a memorable European night was about to take place. Liverpool were blown away in the first 10 minutes of the game where BVB took a 2 goal lead thanks to Mkhitaryan and Aubemayang. Anfield was stunned by the performance. They were leading 3-1 on aggregate now with 2 away goals. Liverpool had to win the game somehow to go through to the semis and the stage was set in the second half for a thrilling European contest between two giants. Origi gave some hope as he scored at the Kop end. The score was 3-2 in in favor of BVB and to make it worse, Marco Reus scored at the other end to make it 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate. Now Liverpool needed 3 goals from somewhere to clinch the place in the semis and it looked impossible. The crowd got behind them just as they did at Istanbul more than a decade ago. If somehow Liverpool manages to win the game this would go right up there with the famous Istanbul comeback.

Coutinho started the comeback with a stunning goal at the far bottom corner from outside the box to give 

Liverpool some hope. Just before the 80^th Minute Mama Sakho headed in from close range to make it 3-3 and 4-4 on aggregate but BVB were still ahead on away goals rule. Now it got the crowd on it’s feet for the last 10 minutes of the game. And the moment came in the stoppage time where Sturridge played a nutmeg pass to Milner who delivered an amazing cross from right flank and Dejan Lovren of all people jumped the highest and headed in the winnig goal for the Reds in front of the Kop. The roar was too big that even the disabled Liverpool fans at the Kop end sitting in wheelchairs were brought to there feet to enjoy a memorable comeback. This is what Jurgen Klopp injected to this Liverpool side. The heart to play for the club. The intention of not giving up at any cost. Liverpool players made history.

Villareal was the team ready to face Liverpool in the semi final. They produced some great performances against the big sides of Spain. At the other hand Liverpool came all guns blazing and were most probably the favorites to win the game. It was a tough ask for Klopp’s men. First leg was played in Villareal and both teams played very well but it was the home side who took advantage in the last minute and went on to win the first leg 1-0. This was Liverpool’s first defeat in Europe this season.

The return leg was played at Anfield and as expected it turned out to be yet another famous European night and Liverpool cruised through a 3-0 win. Sturridge and Lallana got on the score sheet and opening goal being an own goal. It was expected, everyone saw this performance coming. Klopp has injected passion and energy to this squad. But the question is that can they go all the way through and end their trophy drought. It is the biggest opportunity and we know Liverpool and Klopp are capable to deliver the trophy. “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

Evaluating all of Liverpool’s summer signings of 2015/16

For the past 5 years, Liverpool have drained over 300 Million on new players. It started for Kenny Dalglish when he bought in players for over 100 Million and none of them apart from Suarez (off course) showed any quality. He went for the ‘potential world class players’ instead of buying the proven quality which haunted them afterwards.

King Kenny was shown the exit door on May 16^th 2012 and the owners appointed Brendan Rodgers as the club’s new man in charge. He brought in the likes of Borini, Allen, Assaidi and Sahin in the summer. The only quality signings came on the January transfer window of 2012/13 season where he bought in Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge. Emre Can, Sakho, Mignolet, and Moreno are his only decent signings thus far. During his tenure, he has spent over 200 Million and yet Liverpool are still relying on their injury prone striker to score goals.

Rodgers was given the benefit of the doubt when Owners gave him the vote of confidence and one last chance after the bizarre 2014/15 season where he failed to deliver. Liverpool were forced to sell Raheem Sterling to Manchester City for almost 50 million pounds. Players like Lambert, Borini and Aspas were sold too. This meant than Rodgers still has a healthy amount of money to spend on new signings.

James Milner:

He was bought for free from Man City as Liverpool looked to strengthen their squad depth. Many eyebrows were raised when the fans heard about Liverpool’s first signing of the season because Steven Gerrard was released by the club and Sterling also left which made the Kopites very concerned about the ongoing politics at the club. Rodgers rated him as a team leader and gave him the vice captaincy straight away.  Milner has been pretty average so far. He maybe the hardest working outfield player in the Premier League but with just 3 goals in 20 appearances so far, he isn’t doing the team any favors.

Joe Gomez:

Early days, of course, but the teenager has already exceeded expectations while performing in an unaccustomed left-back role. He is injured right now and probably will miss the rest of the season but he is definitely one for the future.  

Danny Ings:

Ings was considered fourth-choice striker on his arrival, but as the time passed, he become a regular starter and a possible England international. One of the only few positives of this season so far. The highlight of his career at Liverpool so far is the goal in the Merseyside Derby and the connection with the fans as he was praised for his hard work and commitment on the field.

Adam Bogdan:

Taken on as a backup to Mignolet, the Hungarian knows he is a squad player but his penalty saves spared Liverpool a Capital One Cup earlier this season.

Nathaniel Clyne:

Brought in to replace Glen Johnson, the England man has been steady if unspectacular, but would benefit from greater consistency around him in terms of performance and selection. He is my personal favorite signing and has shown glimpses of why he should be the England’s number 1 choice for the upcoming Euros in France.

Roberto Firmino:

Liverpool splashed out a surprising amount of money on the forward in the hope he could prove as inspirational as Coutinho or Luis Suarez. Troubled by injuries in his early spell. He came back strongly and gave some staggering performances as under Jurgen Klopp at Man City where he scored and assisted goals and could’ve even got a hattrick. His little plays near the final third and his vision is brilliant. He only needs a good supporting striker with him upfront who could cash on his through balls and short passes. Uptill now he has impressed us a lot, but we still haven’t seen his best as of yet but one thing is for sure that he is one hell of a talented Brazilian.

Christian Benteke:

Here’s the final and the most debatable signing of 2015/16 season.  Benteke began the campaign as a lone striker and played only 45 minutes playing alongside another front man before being hamstrung. He came back and saw his side struggling for goals. With 7 goals in his 19 appearances so far, the big Belgian is being criticized for his not-so-good work rate. Jurgen Klopp wants his players to presss and to work harder to win the ball and Benteke’s style of play doesn’t seems to impress Klopp and his strategies. There’s a big debate of whether Liverpool should play to his strengths or does Benteke need to adopt the Klopp’s style of play. We will see how he copes and gel with the current squad and hopefully he’ll prove his worth.