Liverpool is in the process of navigating a new dawn at present, with Jürgen Klopp referring to this season as ‘year one’ for his fresh group of players, even though he’s been at the helm at Anfield for around eight years. The Reds are bedding in a whole host of new players, with the team’s midfield department in particular undergoing an overhaul over the summer.
Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keïta and Fabinho all departed from Merseyside in the most recent transfer window, with Liverpool adding Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endō as their replacements.
Things are looking good so far, with the Reds accumulating seven wins from their opening eight fixtures in all competitions. Klopp is dealing with a new squad and a new formation, but it is worth noting that Liverpool is still attempting to perform in the same intense and offensive manner, upholding key principles from the very start of his tenure.
The Anfield outfit isn’t the only team undergoing a period of transition right now. Tottenham Hotspur is going through a similar process, and perhaps even a bigger one under Ange Postecoglou. They will face the Reds this weekend and after losing talisman Harry Kane over the course of the summer, Spurs are starting again from scratch under a new boss.
Postecoglou isn’t too dissimilar to Klopp in many ways, and he is intent on transforming the fortunes of his team by coaching a new way in which to play. The former Celtic boss favors an attacking brand of football, and he encourages his players to take risks on the field when building from the back, unlike Antonio Conte before him.
Spurs were previously known for being a deadly counter-attacking team who would sit deep before generating direct attacks in an instant, using Kane’s passing range and the clinical finishing ability of Son Heung-min, who has been made captain by Postecoglou this term.
The landscape looks very different of late. In fact, no team in the Premier League has generated more shots than Spurs so far this season, with only three sides scoring more goals.
Postecoglou is making a big difference at White Hart Lane, with Klopp suggesting as much in his pre-match press conference. “I’m pretty sure everyone knew already what kind of coach he is when you saw Celtic playing in recent years,” he said.
“Coming out to Tottenham where I think they were all desperate for some offensive football and he’s delivering that. They’re a well-set-up team. It’s exciting to watch so yes, it will be a real test for both of us. In recent years, it was always playing against maybe the best counter-attacking team in the world. Now, they are much more possession-based.”
Indeed, Postecoglou has installed a dominant approach this season. In fact, only 20 per cent of Spurs’ goal kicks tend to be launched up the field based on their showings so far, with the rest being played short so that attacking moves can build through the thirds of the pitch, which could be regarded as a positive from a Liverpool perspective.
Many years ago, Klopp went viral for one of his philosophical comments on his approach. “No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good counter-pressing situation,” he said. “If you win the ball back high up the pitch and you are close to goal, it’s only one pass away from a really good opportunity most of the time.”
The Reds aren’t always presented with many chances to score goals through pressing, as plenty of opponents are familiar with Klopp’s game, so they tend to hit long instead. Spurs, by contrast, seem wedded to building from the back, and that should result in opportunities emerging for Liverpool if the players can press as a cohesive unit on Saturday night.
With Son and his teammates still very much getting to grips with Postecoglou’s new passing methods, Klopp will smell blood this weekend. If they get it right, the Liverpool players should find joy.
