The day we beat a Klopp team at Klanfield is the day that we win the league again, as it will mean we have acquired a squad with not just the skill (which we already have) but also the power and athleticism to overcome all opposition playing styles. They were my tip for the title at the start of the season and they remain the acid test IMO. I watched them the other night against Stoke and even after 75-80 minutes the pressing was absolutely maniacal, as if their lives depended on it, the man in possession hounded at full sprint speed by the nearest dipper, and the two nearest passing options closed down immediately. And even when Stoke managed to break the press with the first pass, so the process simply began again. They are absolutely relentless and once they've turned the ball over they have an array of players with not just pace but incredibly quick feet who can all fashion individual chances in packed penalty areas - Sturridge, Coutinho, Mane, Firminho, Lallana, they're all superb at it.
None of that is to say they're infallible of course. They were beaten several times last season, but almost always by muscular counterattacking teams with pace, who simply bypassed the insane pressing. Palace with Zaha and Sako, West Ham with Sakho, Valencia and Kouyate, Newcastle with Wijnaldum, Sissoko and Cisse, the rags with Martial and Rashford. It was also telling that we had the best of them in the Capital One Cup Final with Ya Ya, Fernandinho and Fernando starting, but missing Ya Ya 3 days later in the league we went with Sterling, Silva, Navas and Aguero as a diddyman attacking quartet and got bullied to the point of embarrassment in a 3-0 defeat that could easily have been 8-0. This year their failures have been even fewer, but noticeably they were frustrated by both Burnley lumping 60 yard missiles downfield to Vokes and by the rags, who did what Mourinho always does at Klanfield in selecting no less than 7 players 6ft 2' or taller and parking a gigantic bus.
As to Saturday I don't think Pep can risk his preferred style, cos if we overplay at the back then Mane & Co will tear Kolarov and Otamendi to shreds. We don't have an excess of power and pace to play long with either unfortunately, so I think a hybrid set up of the type we saw 2nd half against Barcelona is our best bet - ie. sit reasonably deep, knock it over the first wave of attackers and then hound their defensive players in the middle of the park. To that end I'd plump for Fernando, Fernandinho and Ya Ya in front of a back 4, and KDB, Silva and Sterling in a trio in front of them. 4-3-3 and leave Kun on the bench. Even that way though it'll be an almighty ask and one that I don't think we're quite ready for yet
