Klopp shouldn't be allowed to dominate the transfer! Liverpool's management has changed drastically, but the squad is difficult to move

When a team is hugely successful, the praise tends to focus on a few or a few individuals. However, when the team suddenly slipped, it seemed that there were too many reasons in the process of "dumping the pot".

When Liverpool have lost 3 and drawn 1 in their last four Premier League games, especially losing 3-0 to Brighton and Wolves in two games, it is somewhat difficult to accept. The question comes from Klopp's tactics set in stone? "Magic Ball Director" Edwards leaves to return the team to mediocrity? Or did Fenway want to sell the team, causing disappointment?

01. The first team has not changed, the management has changed: what is wrong with Liverpool?

a. Behind the slide: A number of key executives left the team

Fans who are familiar with Liverpool will know that there are 3 key figures on the road to success. In addition to the most focused Kloop, the other 2 are sporting director Edwards and FSG chairman Gordon.

However, in November 2021, Edwards, the "magic ball director" who helped Liverpool unearth Robertson, Salah, Firmino, Mane and other god transfers, confirmed that he would leave after his contract expired in June 2022 and rest for a while.

You must know that Edwards is not only responsible for recruitment, but also has a very high level of excellence in selling people. In recent years, Liverpool have been able to earn hundreds of millions of pounds by selling scraps.

This also allows a group like Fenway, which is not invested too much overall, to support Liverpool spending huge sums of money to buy stars such as Van Dijk, Keita, Dias and Núñez.

Liverpool have lost more than just a Magic Ball director this season, Gordon has also given up managing Liverpool's day-to-day affairs and returned to work at Fenway Group.

Even more tragic, Julian Ward, who is believed to be able to continue Edwards' work philosophy, submitted his resignation after less than half a year this season and will bid farewell to Liverpool this summer.

Meanwhile, the acclaimed head of team research, Ian Graham, will also be leaving, and he and Ward give similar reasons: "I feel that my ability is no longer suitable to do my current job".

Is it because Fenway is selling Liverpool? I'm afraid it's not that simple

Some people feel that the personnel changes and turmoil in Liverpool's internal management are related to Fenway's plan to sell the team, but this statement may be a bit one-sided.

It is even said that Fenway has the idea of selling the team, in addition to the fact that Liverpool's market price has reached a peak, and may also have something to do with the departure of key figures such as Edwards.

In any case, Fenway bought Liverpool for $300 million 12 years ago and is currently valued at £4 billion, and the idea of them selling for a bargain will always make the team's hearts float.

The poor first-team record and internal management are more or less affected by the uncertainty of the future.

02. Edwards' departure: Shaken the team's philosophy of success

a. After Edwards left: Liverpool's approach to signings changed

As mentioned above, former Liverpool director Edwards and his scouting team have helped the team a lot. Not only can you buy good players like Robertson, Mane and Salah at a low price, but you can also let go of players that the team does not need at a relatively high price.

However, after Edwards left, Liverpool's transfer power went more to Klopp. Although there is no clear evidence of this, Edwards' successor, Julian Ward, announced his resignation six months later and made a veiled statement about his lack of decision-making power, which somewhat explains the changes that have taken place in Liverpool's signings.

It should be noted that in the current Liverpool transfer affairs, the proportion of voice rising rapidly is Kloop's assistant coach Linders (Klopp asked to renew the assistant coach first when he renewed his contract). He urged the team to buy Núñez and it was he who recommended Gakpo to Klopp in the winter window to bring him to Anfield.

It should be noted that one of these two players is a red in the Champions League, and the other has scored in three consecutive World Cup games. In this context, the player's worth is somewhat overestimated.

Compared with Edwards' low entry and high output, after his departure, Liverpool's transfer concept is difficult to maintain, which also makes the budget-conscious Fenway have a "budget gap".

b. Behind Edwards' departure: Was there any infighting for power?

Considering that within Fenway, Edwards is no less rated than Kloop, and when the former decides to leave after his contract expires in the summer of 2022, Liverpool can only reluctantly accept, is there some story in it?

Although Edwards and Klopp's office are face-to-face, the two have a good relationship, and often drink coffee and chat together, deciding many important decisions for Liverpool, there are many philosophical differences in the future of team building and management.

Edwards' desire to make a major change to his current squad has caused him and Klimp to have had unpleasant encounters with Klopp from refusing to renew Wijnaldum's contract and his obstruction over Salah's retention (Kripp's request to renew several 30-year-old veterans is also something that Edwards cannot accept).

In addition, there was a difficult conflict between Jacobson, the performance director whom Edwards trusted so much, and Klopp's hand-picked director of physical fitness and training, Cohenmeier.

Jacobson, who eventually followed more scientific theories to guide his decisions, left the team at the end of 2020 (Edwards continued to pay him salary as compensation), and Coenmeier, who relied more on intuition and made Liverpool players more able to run, won a big victory.

From Linders taking more decision-making power over transfers to Kornmeier's power in sports science and medical management, Klopp's team's control of Liverpool has reached his peak.

However, it is clear that after losing the more data-focused "team of scientists", Liverpool seems to be a bit off track at the moment.

03. Does Liverpool have a chance to get better? The strikers are already very luxurious

a. Poor defensive performance: 3 central defenders have too many injuries

Looking at the comparison data between last season and the first 19 rounds of the Premier League this season, Liverpool's decline in defence is clear.

Both the number of shots on goal and the expected goals conceded in the box have increased by 30-40%. The number of clean sheets per 90 minutes has slipped by nearly 50%.

It should be said that Liverpool's problems in the defensive end are related to too many injuries to Van Dijk and Matip. The introduction of young centre-back Kornet was relatively successful, but he was also a glass man, which made the team's stability worse.

Compared to the midfield that needs a big change, Liverpool may only need to buy a good rotating centre-back in the defensive line.

b. Strikers are well stocked: a rebound is expected next

Liverpool's current strongest personnel reserve is the striker, and after Jota and Dias have returned to training, the team will have six attackers from Salah, Roberto Firmino, Jota, Dias, Núñez and Gakpo.

Compared to the statistics of the first 19 rounds of the Premier League last season, the scoring opportunities created by the team have dropped slightly, but they are still close. Shooting efficiency has deteriorated after the loss of Mane, which is also related to the fact that Nunez and Gakpo are both new signings and are still in the adaptation period.

Coupled with the fact that the defense is too easy to concede the ball, the striker will also be more likely to be impatient. From the perspective of strength, they don't need to worry too much.

Klopp not only has the opening three-board axe, but also is a coach who is very good at backhand power and three military deaths. Two years ago, Liverpool were the team with the most points off the bench and proved this characteristic of Jurgen Klopp.

In previous games this season, Liverpool made the most substitute appearances, except for the veteran Milner, and the top five were actually Elliott, Carvalho and Jones.

Fortunately, if everything goes well in the second half of the season, at least three people in the forward line can play back, and even Gakpo can make a cameo appearance in midfield, Klopp will be much more generous in manpower, which may be one of the reasons for the team's rebound.

Conclusion:

The current ranking of 10th is certainly not a reflection of Liverpool's true strength. The departure of a number of key members of management, Fenway wanting to sell the team, and the tight schedule of the World Cup have all had an impact on Liverpool.

However, the team still has good quality after all, and Klopp is also a good coach. If confidence and motivation can be rediscovered, I believe that the 3-0 defeat to the relegation team should not happen again.