This 2011 article on Klopp’s Dortmund is telling for LFC fans now…

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A Liverpool fan on Twitter has discovered some words on Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund in 2011 that shows a similarity between the German’s struggles and ours at the moment.

Right now, Klopp’s facing proper criticism for perhaps the first time in his Liverpool career, mainly because of our leaky defence which has contributed to a run of four games without a win…

But before his back to back titles in Germany, Klopp was experiencing the same issues in the Bundesliga.

His first two seasons saw Dortmund finish 6th and 5th, before they waltzed to consecutive title two years on the spin.

According to this article penned in 2011, it was because his side finally sorted out its defensive failings that they became such a force.

Just like with Dortmund, Klopp has already orchestrated a fluid attacking unit that interchanges between midfield and attack, switching positions at will.

In midfield, he used the likes of Kagawa, Gundogan and Sahin – we have Coutinho, Lallana, Can and Wijnaldum.

Up top, he used Barrios, Gotze and Lewandowski – no better than Mane, Salah and Firmino.

But it’s the backline that’s incomparable. Klopp wanted Virgil van Dijk this summer just gone and decided to wait for the Dutchman to become available rather than purchase an alternative.

So until Liverpool actually lodge a bid (maybe this January, maybe next summer), we’re stuck with what we have.

The key, for us, is Klopp picking a first-choice back-four and sticking to it.

The rotation and resting of central defenders isn’t benefiting anyone.

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