Jurgen Klopp might not have won any silverware yet with Liverpool, but trophies are far from the only way to measure improvement in performance of a team. Still, competing for titles is what the club thrives on - and, thus, Klopp’s progress in this area should be noted too, despite him not having actually lifted any as yet.
Since arriving a little over two-and-half seasons ago, Klopp has led the Reds to three major finals, losing each: League Cup, Europa League, Champions League.
Small margins and moments of quality have meant the Reds have walked away empty-handed each time, but there’s no question that the consistency of being able to compete at that end of competitions is down to the improvements the German has overseen in the side.
Notwithstanding actually securing a trophy, however, the biggest challenge Klopp faces now is to turn his team from one which excels in cup competitions, to one which can genuinely compete for a Premier League title.
Suitability
It’s hard to argue against the Reds being vastly more suited to cup games, perhaps especially those played over two legs. They might have an off-day in attack, but they don’t come around too often - so the chances of the Reds firing blanks across two 90-minute periods are remote. At some point, the opposition is going to struggle to contain them.
Then there’s the style of play; naturally, the deeper into a competition the Reds go, the better teams tend to become. They’ll try to attack Liverpool more often, subsequently leaving room to be exploited on the counter-attack, or passing out from the back which allows the high press to be exerted.
In short, better teams sometimes suits Klopp’s side to play against, whereas teams who sit back and defend in numbers have given the Reds problems.
Fans Demand
There’s no question about what Reds fans want, however. Even despite a Champions League run to remember all the way to Kyiv last term, it’s still the itch of the league title which Kopites desire most. A recent poll on This Is Anfield accumulated over 7,000 votes; a whopping 87 per cent stated they’d rather win the domestic league than the biggest European trophy next term.
It is, in the most basic terms, the job Klopp was brought in to do.
Too long going close, certainly too long being a million miles away. At times the Reds looked favourites to run for second place last term; they ended up six points off that position and a full 25 off the title-winners.
Despite, of course, beating Man City three times in as many months in 2018.
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Improvements
This summer has, almost certainly, seen further steps in the right direction.
Depth needed improving in key areas - midfield and attack, primarily - as well as starting quality, with more creativity in midfield for those matches where breaking down defensive-minded sides has been a worry.
Naby Keita helps with the latter, while Fabinho’s surprise arrival certainly boosts both depth and ups the level of aggression and experience in protecting the defence. A new goalkeeper remains on the cards, and at least one attacker, probably two, can be expected to arrive before the new campaign begins.
There is no guarantee it’ll be enough to jump from fourth to first, of course, but the Reds weren’t a million miles away last term, despite the points gap. A lack of numbers to call upon in the final third of the season cost dearly, with points such as in the Merseyside derby dropped when rotation was necessary.
Klopp has, over the last two years and more, set about changing not just the playing staff, but the style, the approach to victory and the overall mentality of the team. Now his biggest challenge is move from competing in knock-out competition to maintaining poise and consistency on a 38-game basis.
He’s proven already in Germany he can produce a title-winning team, but ending Liverpool’s long title drought would perhaps prove even more impressive than achieving the feat with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
