The arrival of Klopp, several months after the team had once again missed out on the Premiership in 2014, seems to be the best decision made in the history of the club, as the Reds have gone on to become the most deadly club team in the world. A couple of European final losses with incomplete squads was indeed a significant achievement, but not enough for Klopp. Bit by bit he reshaped the team, molded them like clay in his hands, and in 2019 he had unveiled his masterpiece.
Key transfers based on players who would suit his style, rather than big names that would demand hefty salaries, have always been a part of the 'Klopp DNA'. This doesn't mean Klopp shies away from opening his wallet. The arrival of centre-back Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker demanded a big spend, but it was money spent well.
Together, they were the foundation of Liverpool's structure. The way they guard the Liverpool goal seems to have an air of nonchalance, as if they don't seem to be putting in any effort. Wanna know how good Alisson is? Just go to Youtube and watch clips of him in action. I need not say more. Watching Virgil play the ball out of the back, it seems to me he's casually walking around in his garden, kicking the ball around with his feet. He has had three defensive partners ever since he arrived. Lovren, Matip and now Gomez. Each one seems to be an improvement over the previous one, and a parallel can be seen in the sense that the team has improved with each addition.
Flanking the two centre-backs are arguably the best wing-back pair in today's game, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. You can argue that they may be lacking defensively when compared to others in their role, but no one suits this Liverpool system better. Racking up more goal contributions than many top quality forwards over the past three years, this is a devastating duo.
As we move on towards the midfield, one name stands out. Jordan Henderson. What a leader he has been. Many have doubted his capability to not just play top-flight football, but to also captain the Liverpool team for several years. During the initial months of van Dijk's arrival, there was quite a demand for Henderson to be stripped off the captaincy, with the armband going to the imposing Dutchman. However, over the last couple of seasons there has been a remarkable turnaround. Not only has he demonstrated his excellent leadership qualities, Henderson has evolved into a 'don't notice, but don't win without' player. Without his presence on the pitch, Liverpool are like a car engine that just doesn't run as smooth as it should.
One reason for the improvement in Henderson's performance is the arrival of Fabinho. Liverpool have really lacked a top quality holding midfielder over the past few years, and his arrival from Monaco has certainly sorted that issue. Despite taking a bit of time to settle in, over the past two years, he has become the lynchpin in this Liverpool side. The role of holding midfielders has become extremely important in the modern game and Fabinho is certainly one of the better ones. His presence has also allowed Henderson to push further forward, as he no longer has to act as a 'water-carrier' and this is what has led to an improved performance from him on the pitch.
The final piece of Liverpool's 'big-game midfield' is Gini Wijnaldum. Another Dutchman, his name isn't the one you see on the back of most shirts, yet he's an energy bank. Like a bolt of lightning, he powers up the Liverpool midfield, and contributes with crucial goals when required. Who can forget those two monumental goals on that magical night against Barcelona? He's the engine block of this team, and certainly packs plenty of horsepower!
Now, to the front three: Mane, Firmino and Salah. What a front three! Inverted Wingers and a False Nine! Now a lot of people say "Oh, Firmino doesn't score that many goals, I wonder why he's even there". These people don't understand football. He's the one who glues this front three together. By dropping back into the space between the opposing lines and linking up the play between Liverpool's midfield and forward line, he creates space for Salah and Mane to run into and hence they can take full advantage of their pace. He also scores when required, and is probably one of the most, if not the most, well-rounded players in this Liverpool side. As for Salah and Mane, I don't even need to explain how good they are. Their stats speak for themselves.
This is usually Klopp's go-to starting line-up for most games. Apart from these eleven superstars, they have pretty impressive firepower as backup. James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xherdan Shaqiri and of course, Divock Origi, all occupy the substitutes bench. Milner plays pretty often, given his versatility and is often used as a replacement for almost any position during big games.
To conclude, this Liverpool squad is a ruthless well-oiled machine which is capable of tearing apart any opponent on any given day. Just as Barcelona dominated the first half of this decade, and Real Madrid the second, I don't hesitate to state that this Liverpool side is the one to be reckoned with over the next five years. Watching them play is a feast for the eyes, fast-moving attacking football played the English way. After years of watching the slow style of Spanish teams dominate world football, this is certainly a more than welcome change. With a Champions League and Premier League title under their belt, this team is just getting started!
