Lijnders: Klopp's tactics are evident already

Pepijn Lijnders insists he and his fellow coaches can already see Jürgen Klopp’s methods taking hold at Liverpool despite the ‘disappointing’ nature of the 1-1 draw with Southampton.

The Reds narrowly missed out on their first win since the German coach took charge as Sadio Mane bagged an 86th-minute equaliser for Ronald Koeman’s team at Anfield on Sunday.

Klopp has now overseen three draws in as many games since taking the helm, but Lijnders is taking the positives from the frustration felt by the squad after the latest stalemate.

Reflecting on the result, the Dutch coach told Liverpoolfc.com: “[It’s] disappointing in the sense that Jürgen came in with a clear idea of how we wants to play and you see in the sessions and the games that it starts evolving, that the team starts developing to a common idea.

“Then you see that they are implementing the ideas, that they are trying to become more efficient and working together in a certain way.

“And then you get the goal! It's in the perfect moment, close to the end, and you think that finally Anfield [will see a win].

“The way the stadium reacted it felt like a relief of course because we know that we have drawn a lot of games, we know that we are the team who always brought the ball more into the opposition half, that we were the team who were playing, the team who could control the game.

“So then it's disappointing that you get a goal against and especially from a cross coming in or a set-piece - that would probably be the only way for them to score in the last 15 minutes.

“That's disappointing, everybody feels that, and that's a good thing by the way because it shows that we feel and know that we are good and the better team.”

While victory eluded the Reds at the weekend, the first-team development coach is adamant that progress under the new manager is already evident – to the trained eye at least.

He spoke of three key elements that Klopp is trying to impress upon his players – attacking balance, counter-pressing and winning second balls - and how they were clearly put into action against Southampton.

“If you have a very good defensive organisation, where everybody knows exactly how to move and how to cover each other, that gives confidence and flexibility when you have the ball,” he said of the team’s balance.

“One [aspect] that [Jürgen] tries to implement and that you see is the counter-pressing - so stopping the counter - it's a very important part.

“But before that, I think the main goal that's difficult to see in the stadium, difficult to see for the fans, is how we move when we have the ball when we are attacking.

“The fact that we are organised [and have] what we call attacking balance [means] that we are ready whenever we lose the ball.

“We can win it back as quickly as possible and we can apply aggressive pressure because we have enough bodies around it when we are playing.

“It's difficult to see in the stadium but our balance is getting better and better in terms of when we are attacking.

“So we are thinking defensively when we are attacking and the other way around as well of course because of the counter-press.”

Discussing the concept of the ‘counter-press’, which became a trademark of the new boss’ Borussia Dortmund side, Lijnders added: “The moment we lose it we apply aggressive pressure, you see that, everybody wants that.

“That's a good thing because it makes sure we stay high up the pitch and that's where we want to play.

“[Fans want to see] Liverpool dominating the game in the opponent's half, not defending the goal but defending our mid-line.”

And finally, on the need to battle when the longer ball comes in as a result of the press, he said: “The third aspect that you see is [opposition teams] play longer.

“We apply a press in the 4-3-2-1 system and, because it's so aggressive, the fighting for the second ball is crucial in that part.”

As Lijnders explains, should these three aspects combine better over time, then the team will regularly be able to play their football where the manager wants it – much higher up the pitch.

“So they are the three ideas I think you see better and better and it gives us more confidence in terms of how we approach the game and how we feel in the game,” he enthused.

“One pressing, two getting close, [three] try to win it back, then we can stay high. That's what you see, it becomes easier and easier to stay high up the pitch, it becomes easier when we win the ball to play it out to find a free player.

“Loads of things to improve of course, as always, but if you ask me the things [Jürgen] is trying to implement in the sessions I think you can see those three things really well.”

 

Excellent interview with one of the best young coaches in the game.

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/196742-lijnders-klopp-s-tactics-are-evident-already

 

Sympathy post

 

Klopps himself admitted that it's not going to be a quick fix. The most important thing is, players are ready to learn from their mistakes. Under Rodgers we conceded too many silly goals, meaning that players were not learning from their mistakes.

 

Not read the OP yet but will do later.

I've already said there is a clear change on the pitch in that the players are showing a fighting spirit and look like they actually care now. Although we still make errors at the back we do actually look better defensively (hard not to considering) and there is a slight hope of a clean sheet nowadays. the issue of scoring goals still remains but Klopp himself said he would build from the back so that was pretty much expected.

 

#rationalgreez

 

Always am


PS...who is this "greez" you speak of? #allaboutkloppezinho

 

I think we all are aware of a few subtle changes in the tactics. One thing that stands out most to me is the "doubling up" making sure we always have numerical superiority locally in key area at key times. Just didn't see this much with Rodgers.

A number of players look better under Klopp. Lala, Milner, Can, Lucas, Benteke, Moreno, Firm, even much maligned Skrtel and Mugs are improving.

How much of this is "New-manager" syndrome and how much is down to real management I don't know.

Results haven't changed yet and we still have many flaws in our play but we look better in recent weeks. Both from an individual and a team perspective.

 

Some outright east mids **** that used to fester on here

 

You can see positive changes in the tactics and style, problem is where Rodgers' tactics used to expose us as a whole team and often make us focus on that over individual players (certain knobheads withstanding), Klopp's get us to work better as a team / unit but expose the flaws in so many average-****e players we have at the club, some of whom we previously thought might not be too bad

 

Sounds like a right ****er

 

There's a fundamental flaw in the high press, aggressive, win the ball back within X number of seconds, methodology.

As it was engineered by Barca, then copied by the likes of Bayern and Dortmund. A high press/ high energy style is fine when you've got control of the ball for 70-80% of the time, as the energy needed to retrieve it when you lose it is not that great over the course of a 90 minute match.

Coming into a club in a league which is much more competitive, you're not going to control the ball every week in that manner. Rodgers tried it and often you were ****ed after 20-25 mins, as you'd ran yourselves ragged. On it's own it's a flawed stategy imo.

 

Spearing would fit in perfectly in this system, shame we got rid...

 

Actually, in Brod's first season, we won the possession game nearly every week. There were only two sides that we really struggled against, Swansea and Arsenal.

We won the possession game a lot in his second season too but there were more occasions that year when we sat back and played counter attacking football.

 

You did often win the passing but you didn't contol games like Barca did in their pomp. But you must also surely remember when you applied the high press and if you didn't blow the opposition away within the opening 25-30 mins then you blew yourselves out.

 

You said control the ball, not game. I agree on the game front

 

People invariably see improvement after a change of manager. Even if it were real, is it due to a new face and a new voice or the real improvement coming from a different and better approach?

In my view too early to tell, with 3 draws. Currently we are all wishing and seeing the positives only.

I think a loss against Chelsea will be a setback. They are low on confidence and desperate for their manager to leave. Many of their key players are not playing injured, suspended or off form. Time to get a result!

 

Rodgers tried to adopt a pressing game. The only time it was truly successful was 13/14 but even then, we had Suarez who naturally works hard.

Seemed like it was a case of just run around a lot and try and win the ball back. No logic, no coaching, no discipline. And it was usually one player pressing, never in packs.

Klopp is far smarter in that respect - it's about pressing the space, the man, at the right time and in numbers.

 

haha.

As a #neutral I've seen a slight difference in the speed at which you're looking to move the ball, more one touch stuff and less sideways possession football. I can't say I've really seen the hunting in packs high energy press much from you yet. Early days and it'll be interesting to see how it pans out in this division. My gut feeling is that it'll leave you vulnerable defensively, and the calibre of opposition striker in this league will generally punish mistakes.

 

It's been there but not for a full game. The first 15mins in the first half and then about 10mins of the second. Seems the fitness levels aren't what they should be (hardly surprising since the hardest team we faced in pre-season was Swindon!)