Analysing the Surprise Selections Jurgen Klopp Has Made So Far at Liverpool

One month into his reign as Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp sat and reflected on his start to life on Merseyside, and the changes that he had made and were required in the future, attesting that, given the structure implemented by his predecessor Brendan Rodgers, there were only minor tweaks to oversee.

“What I said about the beginning is we have to turn the small screws, so that’s what we’re doing,” he told reporters. “Brendan did a really good job here, so we don’t have to show them how football works—because of Brendan’s work. We have to start to develop, we have to come together because every manager’s different.”

After Rodgers’ three-year spell on the touchline at Anfield, Liverpool became something of a predictable beast—for better or worse—and as Klopp approaches the one-year anniversary of his appointment next month, the German has made a number of surprise changes.

So far, the Reds have sealed an eighth-placed Premier League finish under Klopp in 2015/16, as well as taking part in finals of the UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup, presenting a struggle to quantify the success of his tactical alterations.

But after a reasonable start to life in 2016/17, with a win, a draw and a loss in the Premier League and a resounding victory over Burton Albion in the EFL Cup second round, his work looks to be coming into focus.

Here, we look at five surprise selections Klopp has made so far at Liverpool, largely concentrating on the key decisions of this season, looking to unearth the 49-year-old’s reasoning and whether they have proved to be successful.

James Milner at Left-Back

With Jose Enrique released from his contract in May and Brad Smith sold to Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £6 million, Klopp headed into the 2016/17 campaign with just one senior option at left-back: Alberto Moreno.

After a turbulent end to the previous season compounded by a disappointing display in the Europa League final defeat to his former side, Sevilla, Moreno’s position as first-choice left-back was under question.

Despite calls for Klopp to move for a new specialist in the role over the summer—with former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby telling the Liverpool Echo on the close of the transfer window that a move for Cologne’s Jonas Hector would have been wise—Klopp instead opted for an in-house solution.

On joining the Reds for their pre-season tour of the United States, Premier League veteran James Milner began the transition from midfielder to left-back, and this has continued into 2016/17, with his three appearances so far all coming on the left side of defence.

This comes despite Milner telling reporters in March that “it’s not a position I want to play,” but his admission that “what the manager asks me to do I will do,” in an interview with the Echo’s James Pearce, perhaps alludes to the thinking behind Klopp’s decision.

A model of consistency and commitment, Milner has taken to his new role with a fervour—looking to master the intricate balance of defence and attack, and apply his considerable knowledge to aid this—and though a tendency to shift onto his right foot has hampered his development so far, it has largely proved fruitful.

Kevin Stewart as Squad Option

When Klopp arrived at Liverpool, he found a total of 17 players out on loan, while his first-team squad was left depleted by a series of frustrating injuries—with the unavailability of goalkeeper Danny Ward, centre-back Tiago Ilori and winger Sheyi Ojo perhaps most disappointing for the German.

This saw Klopp move to recall a host of his loanees at the first opportunity in the January transfer window, with Ojo, Ward, Ilori, Ryan Kent and Kevin Stewart making up a five-strong group to …

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