Friday’s information that Jurgen Klopp shall be standing down as Liverpool supervisor on the finish of the season introduced the soccer world to a standstill and has change into the dominant plot throughout the game since.
Klopp’s near-nine yr spell at Anfield is coming to an finish, however his departure is so seismic it seems like he is really arrange camp on Merseyside for many years.
90min reported over the weekend that former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso, who’s now in command of Bayer Leverkusen and having fun with a beautiful marketing campaign, is a goal for Liverpool, however can also be into account by Bayern Munich.
Bayern might but stand by Thomas Tuchel, however it needs to be Alonso for Liverpool. Here is why…
The final rule of thumb Liverpool’s decision-makers ought to comply with when seeking to change Klopp is just not to usher in somebody they suppose is or may very well be equivalent to him.
Klopp is a one-of-one, a really particular supervisor who will go down among the many sport’s greats. The way in which he transmits charisma and fervour onto his squads is his biggest power – you realize precisely what his workforce will appear to be and provides you with. You merely will not discover one other Klopp.
Alonso, in the meantime, has let his soccer do all of the speaking whereas in command of Bayer Leverkusen. He isn’t overbearing or excessive upkeep, however quite thought-about and measured. What occurs on the pitch results in successful video games and scoring a bucket-load of targets, however not in the identical rock-and-roll method of Klopp’s groups.
As first famous by John Muller in The Athletic, Leverkusen play extra quick passes than every other workforce in Europe and like to play within the half-spaces. It could be a shift for Liverpool, however definitely not a reinvention of the wheel.
This could be the proper evolution of a Liverpool aspect that, regardless of their ambitions of successful the quadruple, are nonetheless rising and can nonetheless be rebuilding for one more few years.
When you have been to assemble a Liverpool XI in a one-to-one mould of the 3-4-3 Leverkusen have performed this season, you’d get a reasonably efficient workforce able to taking part in Alonso’s means.
The 2 fundamental beneficiaries of Alonso’s system have been wing-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo, who’ve a staggering 36 purpose contributions mixed up to now this season.
Whereas there are clearly two standout candidates to fulfil these spots, Liverpool’s rebuild has allowed them to stack up on a whole lot of youthful gamers who’re nonetheless determining their finest roles, whereas seniors like centre-back Virgil van Dijk and ahead Mohamed Salah can have a bit extra freedom to function.
“Usher in Steven Gerrard, he is aware of the membership” says pundit who’s mates with Steven Gerrard. #Klopp pic.twitter.com/h4J9ZbBitD
— The Exploding Heads (@Exploding_Heads) January 26, 2024
Alright, fingers up, this one is a little bit of a cop-out, however hear us out.
Liverpool is a cerebral membership which does change into infectious in case you are inside its boundaries for an prolonged interval. It should matter to followers that whoever is available in is considered one of them. Klopp, having arrived from an nearly sister-club in Borussia Dortmund, acquired it right away.
The familiarity of getting performed for Liverpool boosts Alonso’s case above another candidates, comparable to Julian Nagelsmann or Roberto De Zerbi who don’t have any prior connection or relationship to the membership. It isn’t about DNA a lot as about feeling the privilege of the Reds.
When Manchester United went about changing Sir Alex Ferguson, the job nearly fell to David Moyes by default. Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Klopp himself all had different plans in place.
That is to not say the identical will occur to Liverpool, however there’s an added significance of securing a prime goal when others are vying for them.
Bayern have an interest. Barcelona might throw their hat within the ring after Xavi’s exit. The managerial merry-go-round may very well be extra aggressive come the summer time. If Alonso is Liverpool’s fundamental candidate, they should act like an enormous membership and transfer swiftly.
READ MORE ON JURGEN KLOPP’S SHOCK LIVERPOOL DEPARTURE
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