Speaking of Cornett, Liverpool must thank Basel, Lyon, Porto, Fulham, Copenhagen, Chicago Flame and Union Berlin. To be fair, the France U21 international has had a good impact since his move from Leipzig last summer, and in essence he barely made the Reds pay a penny. The £36m fee is basically paid for by player sales. By throwing out players such as Liam Miller, Shaqiri, Gruich, Harry Wilson, Grabala and Avoni, Liverpool were able to give Klopp what he needed, which was what was missing last season: centre-back cover.
Cornett has been the club's only first-team signing this season, but quality has always been a matter of quality over quantity at Anfield, and with his first season in Merseyside coming to a glorious end, there is now little complaint about Liverpool's transfer policy last summer. "The right player at the right time, the right price," one source said of Cornett's signing at the time. While many – including Bayern Munich – have been drawn to another centre-back in Leipzig, Palmecano, Liverpool have always believed that Cornett's ceiling is higher and more suited to their style. So far so good. The former Sochaux has adapted well to life in England, making 22 appearances in all competitions and helping Klopp's side have been racing for the trophy.
Klopp called him "an extraordinary genius." In the early hours of this morning, Cornett started with Van Dijk in the first leg of the Liverpool Champions League semi-finals at Anfield against Villarreal to help the Reds keep a clean sheet on the Champions League dark horse and take the lead. In the quarter-finals, he played as much as anyone else, scoring in both games in a 6-4 win over Benfica on aggregate. In between games, he scored another important goal, a goal in the WEMBLEy FA Cup semi-final match against Manchester City. All three goals were strikingly similar, receiving a corner header from the left. Cornett, like Van Dijk and Matip, is vying for the starting spot, and his physical qualities and form make him a considerable threat in set-piece tactics.
"He looked very impressive," Van Dijk said. "Especially considering his age[22], he is very mature. He still has a lot to learn, but his mentality is good. He wants to learn and improve, and that's what we need. "Liverpool have never lost when Cornett comes on and although he has only played eight times in the Premier League so far, he has played some important games in Merseyside. For example, he started in the 5-0 win over Manchester United on October. He was entrusted with heavy responsibilities in the tottenham and Chelsea matches, playing at half-time in the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal and starting in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Inter Milan, as well as starting in two games of the quarter-finals. He has started five of his last six games and he has become an expert in European competitions.
It was he who squeezed Mattip at Wembley and relegated Premier League winner and England international Joe Gomez to fourth centre-back. "If you have a player like Gomez and he's the fourth choice, you know you have a strong team," former Liverpool striker Kuyt said in an interview. "Cornett did a really good job. Not only did he score important goals, but he was also excellent defensively. He was brilliant at both ends of the pitch. It's an honor for Klopp to have so many options at the backline. We know there were so many injuries last season and how tough it was. Now, he has options anywhere on the pitch and Cornett has done a great job for him. ”
To be fair, the team's internal rivalry has played a big role in Liverpool's march this season towards an unlikely, even unprecedented, quadruple. Aside from Firmino, who has been treating foot ailments, Klopp's side are currently completely free of injuries, meaning he not only has to make some big choices, but also the option to replace them when needed. For example, in preparation for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, Klopp made seven adjustments in the match against Benfica a few days ago. Cornett is indeed one of four consecutive starters who rewarded his manager with outstanding performances and a valuable goal.
Over the next five weeks, Cornett will have plenty of opportunities to prove his worth. As Cornett got better, Liverpool's transfer team once again proved its unique vision.