Tottenham 0 Liverpool 0 – Excellent point for Klopp’s first game in charge

Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)


Pre-match thoughts: With all the hype around the new manager Jurgen Klopp it was a game that the media and all of football were looking forward to after the international matches. The LFC fans produced some great banners of support especially the 'We Believe' banner being unfurled before kick off.

WE BELIEVE in Klopp banner unfurled before Klopp's first game

With Klopp bringing in his preferred formation of 4-2-3-1 Can finally getting a chance in his preferred midfield role rather than being played out of position as a right sided defender in a back three. 

Klopp faces the camera in the dugout as LFC manager

After just three days of training we lost Joe Gomez after he picked up a knee injury playing for the England under 21s and then the further disappointing loss of Danny Ings, both for the rest of the season and with the shock news that Daniel Sturridge had picked up an injury prior to the game Jurgen Klopp with a squad already lacking the services  of club captain Jordan Henderson and Christian Benteke.

Jerome Sinclair, Joao Carlos Teixeira, and Conor Randall making the extremely young bench. Our excellent manager Jürgen said everything was cool for Liverpool during his pre-match interview, so we do not worry about these things !!! 

The minor changes developed by Klopp could already be seen in our early play in the first 20 minutes with everyone pressing, no one holding on to the ball, and just a general, switched on feel which is pretty obvious throughout the team.  Full throttle football.

Liverpool almost took a deserved lead for their hard work and endeavour when Milner swung over the Reds corner flicked on by Emre Can toward  Origi at the far post who headed against the underside of the crossbar with Hugo Lloris beaten.  The young Belgian missed a clear opportunity to put Liverpool ahead..

Origi misses a great chance from the rebound off the bar

Around the 25th minute mark, Spurs' counterpunches started to take effect and gaps started appearing in Liverpool's defence. Mignolet saved superbly and Sakho with his immense presence blocked Alli's goal bound shot. Klopp began to gesticulate recognising Spurs were beginning to work their way into proceedings.

Klopp barks out instructions to his players

Halftime: The Klopp effect is real and slowly signs of us being visibly energized, still the old problems of giving the ball away lightly remain with two such instances meaning that Mignolet had to earn his keep by making to very good saves.

Spurs are also a decent team that have grown into the game. Perhaps even to the point where they had the better of the first half.

The second half was not as enthralling as the first half with both sides struggling in the attacking thirds of the pitch.

Perhaps its a matter of wanting to see things we've been told to expect, but Liverpool's players truly seem more adept at quickly stepping up for their tackles. Doesn't guarantee they come off, but the decision to change the play is already a much quicker process across the board.

Throughout the second half we looked like we were crying out for a change.

Coutinho or Origi perhaps most deserving of being sacrificed, but who to bring on? Joe Allen (with his new bearded look) for Adam Lallana, who looks like he'll take to Klopp's system just fine, thanks.

There were late chances for Harry Kane and Emre Can respectively but overall Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool FC can walk away with a very encouraging point in our first game under the charismatic German.
 

Klopp applauding the travelling LFC away fans at Spurs

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dembele, Alli, Lamela(Townsend), Eriksen, Chadli (N'Jie), Kane. 

Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Winks, Davies.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Can, Lucas, Milner, Coutinho (Ibe), Lallana(Allen), Origi. 

Subs: Toure, Bogdan, Randall, Sinclair, 

Man of the match: Sakho – outstanding at the back won all his aerial battles and played intelligent balls into midfield when required.

Sakho - My man of the match - excellent performance

Special mention for Lucas who worked tirelessly for the team and Lallana who had a good first game under new management.

In my opinion Divock Origi was disappointing throughout apart from one very good run down the right wing. He didn’t hold up the play enough to get his colleagues to join him further up the pitch and was also very slow to react to situations that occurred which could have resulted in further chances being created for the team.  

Pleased with the result mainly because we at the moment do not have any depth in our squad for strikers.

Sturridge again being injured is a massive worry as we do not seem to score goals to win games unless he scores.

KLOPP'S THOUGHTS - POST MATCH 

The Normal One analyses his team's first performance

Jurgen’s Klopp’s post match thoughts after the point at Spurs:-“I’m satisfied with the start and it was not the worst sign.“I knew we only had three days and Tottenham are very strong, a well-tuned team, so I knew it could be difficult.

But I’m really satisfied because the start was brilliant and we surprised them a little bit – we wanted to go on the second ball.“Divock, Phil [Coutinho] and Adam [Lallana] worked perfectly in the three, good positions for them. They did well.

The problem was that when we had the ball, we were not cool enough and we didn’t use our skills. We were a little bit too hectic. We didn’t see the right option, but it’s normal.“We had our moments.

From a very good corner we hit the post and there were some other situations where we could have been a little bit better, but for today it’s okay.“Now we have our own game, our own experience, together and now we can go on working.

”Klopp feels today’s game could provide a solid basis moving forward. “Football is a results sport, so we need results, but we have to try to improve,” he continued. “We have to try together, work together and do the things better that we want to see. That’s what we are doing at the moment.

“A nought on the right side [of the scoreline] is okay, for sure, but on the other side it doesn’t give you the same feeling.“I know Liverpool have not scored the most goals this season, but football can be enjoyable and spectacular without goals if you play well and have good moments. 

Of course, our target is to have the nil on the right side and on the other side, another number! “For the moment, it’s more important for development to become stable. We needed Mignolet and a very strong game from him [today], but we can make it better when we play better football. 

We are able to play better football but today, after three days [training], it is okay.

”Klopp had words of praise for Origi, who marked his first Barclays Premier League start with an encouraging performance in attack. The manager revealed he had previously been interested in taking the young striker to Borussia Dortmund, and believes he has a bright future ahead of him at Anfield.

“I wanted to take him to Dortmund but Liverpool bought him,” explained Klopp. “He is a very good player. “He is young, very fast, a good technician. At this moment, he’s not full of experience in the game because he hasn’t played so often, but we will have fun with this player, for sure.

”Meanwhile, journalists quizzed Klopp on the emotion of overseeing his first match in charge of Liverpool.

He replied: “It was good. It’s not important to talk too much about me, but of course it was my first match as a manager in the Premier League, coming with Liverpool to White Hart Lane, and we enjoyed it.

“We’re not here to enjoy it and once the whistle went at the start, we were in the game – but before, I tried to look at the things I’ve never seen before. Now we are in and working.”

Final mention for former Everton player and manager Howard Kendall who died today at 69.  Kendall who with the legendary Alan Ball and Colin Harvey formed the Holy Trinity midfield which drove Everton to the League title in 1970.  As manager from 1981-87 he led the Blues into a golden period capturing 2 League titles, a Cup Winners Cup and a FA Cup - our condolences to his family and friends - great player, great manager and obvious from all the tributes from the football family great man. RIP Howard Kendall.