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Jurgen Klopp’s Decisions over Forwards Make Sense, Sturridge Will Get Chances
- Updated: August 29, 2016
Liverpool left White Hart Lane on Saturday with a point following a 1-1 draw against fellow top-four contenders Tottenham Hotspur—which is either a point gained or two points dropped depending on your perspective.
The result means Jurgen Klopp’s side have left north London twice in their opening three games of the season with points in the bag, having beaten Arsenal in their opening fixture.
Those two results point to a solid start, but unfortunately for Liverpool, they sandwich a desperately disappointing 2-0 defeat at relegation-contenders Burnley.
Is the glass half full or is the glass half empty? In the modern era, football fans are often quick to see the latter but struggle to see the former.
Four points from nine available, taken in isolation, isn’t what Klopp would have dreamed of. Indeed, the German admitted as much on Saturday, telling reporters in his post-match press conference: “Four points from three games is not what I wanted.”
But looking at the bigger picture—an increasingly difficult thing for football fans wanting instant success—it isn’t all that bad, and actually, the signs are mostly positive.
Liverpool have played at two top-four rivals, at the Emirates and White Hart Lane, and visited Turf Moor—the Reds won’t be the last team to get a difficult game at Burnley. Three away games in a row to start a season was never going to be easy.
Klopp and Liverpool supporters can look forward to the returns from injury of Loris Karius and Emre Can after the international break—two players who will have a huge say in the development of the Reds’ XI and ultimately how the season progresses.
Can’s role as the holding player in the midfield three is key for Liverpool this season, while Karius could well dispose of Simon Mignolet and therefore offer something different at the back. With the two Germans in the side, Liverpool will have greater defensive stability and overall balance.
Jordan Henderson performed much better in the holding role than in the two previous league games, but his game will be better suited to one of the box-to-box roles, likely at the expense of Georginio Wijnaldum—who on Saturday was again a rather anonymous presence.
There’s plenty to be positive about after the international break, when Liverpool finally have a home game to contend—albeit against champions Leicester City and followed up by a trip to Chelsea. But there’s still plenty of time for more overreaction from fans and media yet.
The season, though, is a marathon, not a sprint.
And that brings us nicely on to Klopp’s use, or non-use, of Daniel Sturridge.
The England forward was introduced in the 89th minute at White Hart Lane, with Roberto Firmino again preferred from the start and Divock Origi used as the first substitute in attack.
Such decisions left some supporters and media personalities confused, most notably Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who tweeted to compare Sturridge’s scoring record to that of Firmino and …
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