Speaking recently on the TIFO Football Podcast, Alex Stewart discussed Liverpool’s style of football and how it affects the way the club works in the transfer market.
Since Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool back in 2015, he has overseen something of a transformation at the football club, not simply in the playing staff, but also in the way the club plays football, as well as turning them into serial winners – over the course of last season, his side held the titles of champions of England, champions of Europe and champions of the world.
The style of Klopp’s Liverpool is something that Stewart discussed on the TIFO Football Podcast, and how Liverpool’s ‘system-based’ style does not particularly allow for individual egos.
He said: “I think Liverpool made such a strong stylistic change in the first couple of seasons that Jurgen Klopp was there and supplemented that intelligently with transfers, that they are not the kind of club now, at this point in time, particularly if Klopp is going to stay there for a long period, who need to bring in massive acquisitions – big headline-grabbing players to take over from somebody because it’s such a system-based team.
“So, it’s really, really hard because footballers have egos and I don’t say that critically or pejoratively. If you’re joining a club like Liverpool, you’re going to be doing it because you want to play.
“So, looking around for astute acquisitions who are going to glide into a holding pattern around the first team – be ready to step up, be proficient and, and tactically aware and intelligent enough to slot into what is a clearly defined system.
“This is why, for example, the Roberto Firmino role is so important. That’s what you’re looking for, they’re not going to go out and probably spend £50 or £60 million again for a little while, unless potentially it’s for a central defender.”
Is it essential that Liverpool keep Klopp for the foreseeable future?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
From Stewart’s comments, then, it would appear as if he is suggesting that Liverpool do not necessarily need to go and spend a great sum of money on individual players this summer, as they have a team that is based on a system and made up of a great deal of equally important parts.
However, it would also seem as if he is hinting that it could be difficult for Liverpool to sign big-name players, as the system that Liverpool operate in requires them to sometimes be on the periphery of the team, and not always acting as the star of the show.