A Cool Start For Klopp

Posted by

After the hectic and manic week for Liverpool’s new manager Jurgen Klopp, the German was happy to finally play some football.

Klopp’s first game in charge was a tough one with an away fixture to in-form Spurs and to make things more difficult his team selection options were limited by numerous injuries to key players.

With the likes of Henderson, Benteke and Lovren all out, Klopp received more injury news in his first week in charge with the news that Joe Gomez and Danny Ings would miss the rest of the season after picking up injuries and if that wasn’t bad enough he found out that Rossiter and Sturridge would also miss the Spurs game.

With so many forward players unavailable it was a minor miracle that Liverpool came away from White Hart Lane with a positive result.

Divock Origi was Klopp’s only real striking option although he selected young Jerome Sinclair as a substitute.

Spurs have not lost since the first game of the season, a defeat at home to Manchester United and probably most Liverpool supporters feared the worst despite Klopp’s arrival.

The game wasn’t the most entertaining but there was evidence of the Klopp effect already as Liverpool came out the blocks fast and pressed and harried their hosts in an energetic first 20 minutes or so that should have seen them take the lead but Origi headed against the crossbar from only a few yards out.

Tottenham gradually came into the game and had the best chances of the game and Liverpool had to thank Mignolet for some great saves to earn Liverpool a deserved point and a rare clean sheet.

The hosts’ best chances were results of Liverpool’s mistakes, especially in the first half that has been a regular problem for the Reds this season, although given time Klopp will sort that out.

But the energy and commitment shown by the Liverpool players was encouraging and the defence looked more solid in the second half with Clyne and Sakho immense at the back with Mignolet behind.

Skrtel struggled against the physical Kane and Moreno got himself into trouble too often.

Milner, Lucas and Can worked their socks off and the German looked much more happier playing in the middle of the park.

Coutinho and Lallana struggled to create anything of real note but it wasn’t through lack of effort and Origi worked hard playing as a lone striker and held the ball up well against a strong defence, he’ll be disappointed not to have scored when he headed against the bar from a few yards out.

Overall it was a good point for Liverpool and it gives Klopp a platform to build on and with some injuries clearing up in the next few weeks the German will have more options.

follow me on twitter @theliverword