Drubas
Well-Known Member
Same pressing philosophy but no team structure with the ball and no intention to build up with the ball. As I said too reliant on counter pressing and hence too reliant on opposition mistakes. Can't force the issue when needed and imo this will become more and more apparent.
Counter pressing is just a way to retain possession. Without quality in possession, no team will amount to anything.
Both Chelsea and Hull had 9+ players behind the ball, pretty much the whole time.
I am a bit surprised that you would single out "no ideas in build up" and "no ideas when in possession" as Klopps weakness. If I were to single out Klopps absolute strengths in Dortmund, it would be exactly that.
I would say that Klopps biggest issue is that his offensive play and counter pressing demand insane intensity. If players dip in intensity, or if quality in offense is lacking, Klopps teams can look disoriented, get stretched and look out of sync.
He has had a problem with rythm too. Liverpool has gradually improved the ability to impose their high tempo football and control play. The issue has been that they get stuck in a gear that takes too much energy. You can see the improvement in control, massive difference from last season. But still an issue. So this summer Liverpool worked hard on a couple of formations that deals with the fatigue issue. The best example is the 4-5-1 that was deployed last 30 against Chelsea and Arsenal. The same setup that Liverpool practiced pre season against Barcelona in the second half.
0 goals conceeded in that formation. Closed down 4-3 against Arsenal and 2-1 against Chelsea. So at worst he is at least a two trick pony.
Last edited: