The words ‘outstanding’ and ‘character’ have been replaced with ‘uber’ and ‘zeichen’ around Anfield this week.
A new era began for Liverpool in the early afternoon of Saturday when Jurgen Klopp led the Reds out for the first game of his era. It was a tentative start but one that gave plenty of reasons to be hopeful.
Spurs are no walkovers and a point away against them represents a positive result for the German who enterred this game on the back of losing his three first choice strikers.
Top of the list of reasons to be cheerful was the players willingness to get behind the new system. Liverpool’s pressing game, particularly in the opening half hour, led to Spurs looking nervous on the ball and several turnovers in the right areas of the pitch.
Liverpool fans will also be happy to see Mamadou Sakho back in the heart of their defense. The France international was rock solid all day and was always looking to go forward whenever he was on the ball.
He didn’t give Kane a sniff at goal and looks infinitely better than Lovren did when he was started on the left side of Liverpool’s central defense.
Sakho MOTM. ?
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) October 17, 2015
Brendan Rodgers spent a huge amount of money on Lovren, so may have felt pressurised into playing the former Southampton man. Klopp will feel no such pressure and is likely to go for Sakho permanently.
Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno were also excellent for Liverpool after being moved back into the more traditional full-back position. This formation seems to suit both players and Liverpool’s defense looked solid.
It wasn’t the perfect day for Liverpool. Adam Lallana is still prone to ball-watching and Divock Origi looked slightly out of his depth. Martin Skrtel’s form has to be worrying, while Coutinho had an off day too.
But all in all, it was a positive start under Klopp and Liverpool will be confident they’re slowly, but surely, getting their Mooju back.
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