Jurgen Klopp needs to exorcise the ghosts of 2014. The German coach should have assessed that the current squad (many of whom played in the 2014 title run in) is not capable of delivering victories on the biggest stages. Ever since the fateful Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea, Liverpool have suffered from stage fright in the really big games.
Jurgen Klopp Needs to Exorcise the Ghosts of 2014
The Europa League final defeat against Sevilla, bore eerie similarities to the capitulation against Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup semi final. The Reds were simply blown away after taking the lead in both showpiece games. The ease at which Sevilla ruthlessly punished Liverpool was hard to watch for Reds fans. It was however not totally unfamiliar territory for Anfield supporters, they have witnessed total capitulations far too often in the past few seasons.
Klopp, will have to dismantle the squad in perhaps a more emphatic way than he intended when he took over, seven months ago. The obvious weak links in the team, showcase themselves, especially in big games. At a minimum the Reds need a tactically sound left back, a new goalkeeper, a rugged controlling midfielder, and a consistent play-maker. Mentally tough and winning mindsets are also required, to put it in layman’s terms, Liverpool need winners and leaders.
The Liverpool coach may also need to reassess his dogged approach to playing 4-2-3 1 style formations. The combination of Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho as a forward vanguard did not work. This formation leaves Emre Can and James Milner too exposed, especially when all three attacking midfielders are not at the races. Daniel Sturridge while not offering much in overall play, consistently produces goals, it may be time he had a hard working front line partner, with the returning Danny Ings and the improving Divock Origi the main candidates at this point in time.
Liverpool will have funds for incoming players in the summer and need to sell their unwanted players for the top amounts that they will attract. There could be at least ten changes to the main playing squad for next season, and it was interesting that Klopp has talked at length about transfers and changes immediately after the final. Many Liverpool fans now acknowledge that the honeymoon period for Klopp and his coaching staff is now over.
The real work to make Liverpool a consistently competitive club will start now and throughout the summer pre- season. The Sevilla defeat is a very damaging one, as the club lost its only chance for lucrative European competition next season. For Reds fans, an old Winston Churchill quote sums up the phase this Liverpool squad is in post the defeat at the hands of Sevilla “ Now this not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning”.
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